Highlands ... Fun Times!

When asked, once again, to join 4 other families on a weekend getaway,
we didn't even hesitate to say yes -
I might even have squealed a bit ... possibly.

Last trip was 2 years ago to Big Canoe.

Refresh your memory here.

Anyway, location was changed this year to Highlands.

We've never been and were super excited.

Let's see ... we had:

5 families,

in one house,

with 5 bedrooms,

3 bathrooms,

1 busy kitchen
(that was obnoxiously full of food!),

a huge screened in porch with fireplace,

and lots of wide open space outside to roam in.

B-L-A-S-T!

Some hiking with the moms & kids behind the house ...

Fun swing in the yard!

Remote Controlled Cars = new hubby hobby ...

and son hobby too!

The front porch made a great viewing/driving spot for the RC cars ...

One plus to this hobby compared to others:

no bodily harm can come -

unless you are hit by a car in the shin!

I even got in on the action -

but it was way harder than it looks!

Fun games in the yard ...

A whole group hike -

thanks to Chad for providing transportation!

We were in the baaa-aaa-ck woods!

Oh Ben ... always have to have a silly shot ...

Alexis enjoyed the hike as well!

This awesome waterfall was our destination ...

you can see how little our group is compared to the fall ...

amazing!

That doggone boot didn't slow Blaine-o down one bit!

Yep - getting a sip!

Caught this sweet shot of Mandy & Amy ...

worth 1,000 words! :)

Other activities -

countless games of War and Slap Jack!

Whitney showing off her mad reading skillz to Bowdie ...

On the last night,

we enjoyed a campfire and some s'mores ...

(the following pictures are totally pirated off my sweet friend mandy's blog!)

The Pognants

Matt, Alisa & Alexis

The Dickinson Crew

Mike, Carrie, Jacob, Lilly, Johnny, & Michael Jr.

The Hartsocks

Ben, Amy, Whitney & Lindsey

The Hendersons

Chad, Mandy, Luke, Kallie, & Cole

**Mandy planned this whole shin-dig.

I love having friends that will plan and then invite me to tag along!**

Some fun with Mandy's camera, her tripod and 

a reeeee-aaaaa-lllll-yyyy slow shutter speed ...

Since we'll be vacationing with the Hendersons (& Hartsocks)

this summer, 

don't think you won't see this kind of photo-shooting again!

We're making plans!!

Nightly devotions with music ...

thanks Mike & Jacob!

Fun times, fun memories ...

left refreshed & encouraged as a parent, wife & friend ...

the kind of refreshing that can only be found by being sharpened by

other believers ...

so blessed!