Birchcrest 2014

Summer means the annual Savage gathering at Birchcrest.  We were lucky to have great weather this year, so mostly spent our time just hanging at the cabin, swimming, boating and doing cannonballs!  We were short one family this year, the Schobels couldn't make it so soon after Fred's surgery, they were missed!

First up, our time in the water!  We only had one non "water worthy" day, so this was a lot of our time...

Watch out for the little cousins!

Lynn brought her paddle board, which was a big hit.

Chillin' with Brooks.

Alex fishing with Casco.

Corbin getting ready to try out the water skis.  He managed to master getting up and cruising all around the lake!

DSLR selfie!

Christopher went out for a solo kayak trip, Mom went after him :)

Brothers checking out the conditions for the day before jumping in!

Lynn took a few photos for me too, me taking Christopher and Nathan out for a ride.

Cannonball!!! (Nathan's version)

Donuts!

"Mom! Mom!  Take a picture of me under water!"

Brooks not so impressed :)

Rinse and repeat x1000.

Getting his surfer moves perfected.

Taking Alex for his first tubing ride.  He wasn't so sure.   

Nathan loved every minute of it, especially "rolling off at the end!"

When we were on the lake, we were enjoying each other's company in and around the cabin.  Talking, playing games and just being silly!

Something very interesting in the sky for Ed, Karl and Russ.

Alex showing Russ, Corbin and Ed his game of "Uno Moo".

Andrew showing Nathan "Minecraft" and starting a new obsession for him.

Just a good picture of Russ :)

Brooks being silly for the crowd!

Lynn leading the boys in a rousing version of "Crescent Laaaaaake!"

Carrie playing football with Tyler and Alex.

Lynn reading to Brooks and Alex.

Ed telling Alex "5 more minutes until dinner!"  Alex was very excited for the tasty pasta dish they made.

Enjoying eating outside in the summer!

Christopher and Nathan being silly in the hammock.

Finding super secret places to play!

Have stick, have rock, what else does Tyler need??

Cousins <3 td="">

This year marked the debut of the "Crescent Lake Gremlin".  The boys looked forward to the afternoon when he (she??) would come to visit and leave a special little treat!

Corbin found a note from the gremlin!

The note...

Today was popsicles!

No shoes, no shirt...  No problem!!

This year we took an idea from the Hamptons, and did a day trip to Storyland in New Hampshire.  It is an amusement park that is especially geared towards the littler guys.  We took Christopher with us, and met the Hamptons there, and had a great time!

Mimi leading the charge through the gates!

Group cousin shot!

Alex enjoying the balloon ferris wheel.

With my boys!

Mimi prepping Christopher for the roller coaster...

Playing in the "Loopy Lab" where vaccuums/air shot foam balls everywhere.  Alex loved laying on the ground and watching them fall.

A fun water fountain...

Andrew cracking up the little ones at lunch.

The required jail shot at Storyland :)

Fun on the carousel!

A well-deserved treat near the end of the day.

Bedtime rountine was a little more fun with cousins, aunts and uncles to pitch in and share it with.

How many cousins can the bath fit??

Ed reading to the boys.

Losing control at the end of the book...

Then out like a light...

Random shot of the duck family.

Nathan snoozing on the boat ride to visit the other cabin.

Enjoying a breakfast at Danielle's.  It was too quiet at the cabin after everyone else left!

Michael had a meeting in Portland on Monday, so we decided to stay in Brunswick for a few days, after we had to leave the cabin Saturday morning.  We took the boys to the "Giant Steps" on Bailey Island, then down to Lands End (not the store in Sears).

Enjoying the beautiful coastal Maine views.

Group shot by Mimi :)

Enjoying the hike along the path lined by Queen Anne's Lace.

The Queen Anne's Lace attracted a beautiful butterfly.

Down at Lands End, the boys try and lift a boulder.

Mimi enjoying the view.

The boys checking out the whirlygigs.

While Michael went to his meeting on Monday, the boys and I hit Frosty's, and then the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum in Portland.

Frosty's!

Playing in the "kitchen" at Frosty's to cook up the doughnuts!

Ticket to ride!

Enjoying the (torrential downpour) view.

Inside the museum, driving the train.

Nathan's favorite part of the train cars, the bathroom.

Choochoo!

Their favorite part, the train tables, of course!

Another wonderful week at Birchcrest, so many great memories, and such a special time for the cousins.  Until next year!