June 23-26 - Graham's Visit

Allan H. Treman State Marine Park

"Teach them to boat when they are little and they will have a lifetime of adventures!" -Author Unknown

The main reason we spend our summers in upstate New York is to be close to our son and his family in PA. Spending time with our family is the most important thing in our life at this moment. We love to explore new places, but we love our family more. We're blessed to be able to spend half the year with Eric and his family in Texas and the other half with Kyle and his family. The bonus is we get to stay away from the extreme weather in both places. 

Kyle and his whole family love spending time on Cayuga Lake and in the Finger Lake Region, but the kids really enjoy spending time on our boat. Graham has been staying with us by himself since 2017 and this year Cora will get her chance to have a little one on one time on the boat. We're looking forward to that, Stan and I REALLY love having them with us. 

Graham came this past week and we had fun...although a little different from years past since some of his favorite places were still closed. Things that weren't different were playing on the boat, painting rocks, riding bikes, playing in the water and having a cookout. 

With all the things there are to do up here...Graham's favorite thing is playing on the boat. This is his ice cream shop.

The kids like to collect and paint rocks...it's become a tradition when they are on the boat. 

A few of the rocks Graham painted while he was on the boat. He's getting very good.

Stan and Graham went fishing one morning...it was a beautiful day.

So what does a boy do when you're not catching fish....😂

There was plenty of time for play, but they also catch some fish...the biggest on was a 34" land lock salmon.

 Play fishing on the dock was fun too.

One day we played at Long Point State Park...a great playground, the lake to play in and hot dogs on the grill. Not a bad way to spend the day.

Before heading home we had a great brunch at a good friends house...look at those amazing pancakes Jen made for Graham.

June 6-10 - Cayuga Lake Family Vacation

"The memories we make with our family is everything." –Candace Cameron Bure

With all the Covid virus restrictions it's nice we have a beautiful area in our own backyard to vacation in. Our PA kids were on vacation, so they rented a house on the lake. The house was only a few miles up the lake from the marina and had a nice little dock for Tiny Pearl. Graham was excited to drive the boat to the house...Cora had a chance later in the week to drive the boat. They really enjoy our boats and we love having them here.

We spent our days playing in the lake, fishing, looking for beach glass and rocks, painting rocks, riding on the boat, eating well, reading, relaxing and truly enjoying just being together. We only took two short trips away from the house...a morning at the Ithaca Children's Garden and an afternoon sitting in the sun at the Bet the Farm Winery. 

The house

Looking up to the house from the yard.

The incredible view from the house.

The stairs up to the house from the lake.

We had a great time playing in the lake, even though the water is still cold up here (65º). 

The best way to warm up after playing in the lake...get buried in the warm rocks. 

Hot rock spa treatment.

Fun on the lake on Tiny Pearl.

These kids love to look for neat rocks to paint and beach glass...Cora has a great eye for finding beach glass. 

Upstate New York is full of rocks and we all like to paint rocks. This house was a great place to paint...it came with a wonderful view of the lake. 

Even Hattie had fun with the rocks. 

No trip to Ithaca is complete without a visit to the Children's Garden. 

Having fun on the deck...it was the perfect place to play and eat.  

This house and the lake was the perfect spot to relax, play and spend time with family.