Why you should take out stock in aloe....

I spent the last 6 days in heaven relaxing with my mom and my brother. We hadn’t had a vacation like this since before my brother got married 5 (YES FIVE!) years ago. And, this one was a bit of a milestone, because we will never have another like it – since I am about to become Auntie M in December.

We returned to our family’s favorite vacation spot, Chippewa Resort in William’s Bay on beautiful Lake Geneva. My mom has been vacationing there since she was 5 years old, and we started going when I was 5 years old, so it is a place packed with wonderful memories. My favorite moment is when we come around the bend and see the lake for the first time.

Before arriving, JJ and I stopped at Grandma J’s house to take her out for brunch. She hadn’t seen Josh since his wedding.

The first day we arrived, we were lucky to spend the afternoon with the Spatz family. And celebrate Josh’s birthday (the big 26). We spent the majority of the time lying by the lake coated in sunscreen, relaxing. I made it through 3 ¾ novels. My other great accomplishment was to hike from William’s Bay to Lake Geneva (about 10 miles – getting ready for AustinFound). Maybe next year I will make it all the way around!

We even got out on the lake in Josh’s super raft – it is eleven feet across. I prefer my little floatie because you actually get wet. But, the other vacationers looked longingly at the world’s largest donut wishing they could have a go.
On Wednesday, Mom and Josh ditched me for the day to drive in to Chicago to see the Cubs beat the Rockies (6-4). I hear it was a good game, next year we will be sure to bring Ian along so we can get him in to Wrigley! I had mom by him a tee-shirt from the game and when I gave it to him last night he looked at it and said, “They spelled Red Sox wrong.”

That night, while mom and JJ were fighting traffic back to the lake, I had the best sunset. It was a beautiful dusk over the lake.

Josh had to leave on Friday, but mom and I got an extra day and night at the lake, only problem is we forgot to apply extra sunscreen and we burnt to little crisps on Saturday. We were doing so well! I thought we were going to make it through the week without turning in to little “lobstas” – as Dana would say. But, no, I got on the plane bright red and happy! It was a great week…

This is the totem pole where we always too family photos as a kid…can’t wait for next year!