We experienced an absolute treat this past July. Our friend, Carolyn, invited us to spend a few days at Squam Lake in New Hampshire. She and her family rent a cottage on the lake each year, and we were afforded the pleasure of joining them--it was beautiful!
We arrived late Sunday evening. The cottage was about 40 feet from the water, which was wonderful and slightly unnerving at the same time (My mom-sense was on edge the whole trip because kids and water don't mix)! Carolyn's parents purchased a few surprise toys that they stashed around the cottage. The boat seen above was a big hit. They had stickers on the side naming it the "Josiah II".
They rented a pontoon boat.
The next day we headed out on the water for a leisurely ride on the boat.
Our destination was a little cove marked off for swimming. We had a picnic lunch on the boat.
Jake was the official boat operator.
Napping, well it didn't really happen for Eli. He is such a trooper though.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms were forcasted for most of our trip, but thankfully it didn't ruin any of our plans. We experienced a nice little downpour on our ride back to the cottage.
The next morning we headed to Squam Lake Natural Science Center. There were just enough sprinkles for Josiah to get to hold the umbrella. Our favorite animals were the mountain lion, black bears, and bald eagle.
There it is in the photo below.
^^ Eli fearlessly helped Carolyn navigate to the island. ^^
Here are Carolyn and her parents. See all of the bushes behind them? They were wild blueberry bushes. The boys joined me in some serious snacking.
Church Island actually has church services every Sunday. There was a birch cross (Josiah is holding it above), and there were pews and a little building that held an organ.
After we finished that short excursion we put the boys down for naps and returned the boat.
Here was a boat garage on our way (below).
Next we enjoyed some really good ice cream at Squam Lakeside and started off for a short hike up Rattlesnake.
In less than 15 minutes we were at the top, and we were rewarded with this view...
For the Lord is a great God
And a great King above all gods,
In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
The peaks of the mountains are His also.
The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
And His hands formed the dry land.
And a great King above all gods,
In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
The peaks of the mountains are His also.
The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
And His hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Psalm 95:3-6
We ended up leaving for home later that evening. Our boys were tuckered out, and here's how that went....
