We love us some Pineview

Every year we go to Pineview to just get away.

This year we didn't make it up there until AUGUST!!!

That is insane to me.

I was trying to go up in May and it took until August to get there.

The kids are in heaven here...with the exception of Ellie.

She is a bit terrified of the the lake.

She did get in and swim in the shallow part.

She got so much sand in her eyes because she leaves them open in the "wave crash zone"

We tried goggles but she didn't so much like that either.

It was back to her umbrella and barbies.

All the kids got buried alive...well Elsie freaked about half way through.

I was surprised Ellie made it all the way.

We of course made JJ a mermaid,
because that is funny when he can't move.

When we got home and I took the littles swim suits off
and sand just poured out.

Yes, I had to vacuum. 
I probably could have built a sandcastle.
But I didn't.

Emma then built a mermaid out of sand and did a pretty dang good job.

JJ swam out to the buoy while I was making lunch.  

I give out sandwiches and look for him.

He is GONE.

I start scanning the water

still GONE

I start scanning the beach

no JJ.

I have 3 other kids with me and now I can't find JJ.

I am starting to get nervous. 10-15 minutes have passed and no JJ.

I put Emma in charge of the girls.

Put their life jackets on.

I go and get a lady next to me and ask her to watch my littles while I go look for JJ

I go to both bathrooms.

No JJ

At this point PANIC has set in.

He is eleven I keep telling myself.

He had his life jacket on.

Then I start to think about the chain by the buoy and what if he got his foot caught in it.

I go back to the girls and still no JJ

It has now been about 20 minutes since I last saw him.

When I get back the waterworks start.

I tell the lady I can't find my son but he is probably okay.

I am just worried.

She then starts helping me look.

She is with a youth group and she starts asking around.

"Have you seen a red headed boy, blue life jacket, 11 years old?"

I go up on the hill by our car which is a cliff that drops off to the water.

That is when I see him.

He is having the time of his life exploring on the cliff.

BOYS!!!!!!!

The lady helping me asked a boat driver about JJ right when I found him.  

The boat driver pointed at him.  "Is it that kid?"

We both found him at the same time.

I could have killed him if I wasn't so happy he was still alive.

Once my nerves settled I was able to enjoy the rest of our time there.

Oh and speaking of lunch I went to make the sandwiches and remembered the bread was home on the counter.  A lady next to us heard me say I have no bread and she gave us hers.  

The best part for the kids was that it was white bread.  I never buy white bread so they thought they were in heaven.  It i nice to know that there are still nice people in the world.

Packing in and packing out is tough without Daddy but JJ is stepping up to the plate.

We sure do miss daddy when we go though.

We have the Pineview bug and we will be back.

Sooner than later.