Family Reunion on Lake Gaston, NC!

Lake Gaston, North Carolina

Summer 2017

We are FAMILY!

Love that our crew can put their busy schedules aside and come together to celebrate the best gift of all.. FAMILY!    

It has been said that you can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family.  I couldn’t put a better crew together.   Everyone brings something special to the pack and this week in particular, it was nice see everyone blend, share their lives and even do a few things outside of their boxes! 

This year we had Travelers from four different states, New York, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Florida! 

Grandkids in age order:  

Jacob ~ 23 (Desciak),  Alex ~23 (Tiley), Keegan ~ 21 (Desciak), Jared ~ 20 (Desciak), Katie ~ 18 (Tiley), Logan ~ 15 (Desciak), Jordan ~ 14 (Carey), Garrett ~ 12 (Carey), Ayden ~ 10 (Carey)

Grand Daughters!

Grand Sons!

Team Pink!

Team Blue!

Team Tiley

New York Family

 

Katie (18)

Huge shout out to Katie…  This girl has some serious grit.   She was determined to get up on the wakeboard and Chris was not going to bring her in until she did.   This was one incredible moment not only for Katie but for all of us to see her accomplish!   We were sitting in the boat on the last day of vacation and she said to me.. “you know, life is just too short not to put yourself out there!”  Words well spoken and lived by…  She is heading off to New Paltz this Fall and I cannot wait to see what life brings her.  

Alex (23)

Not to be outdone and in support of living life sometimes outside the box… Alex aka “Caspah” was up and running as well!   Nailed it!   Alex lives in NYC with his long time girlfriend, Stefany working for one of our favorite weekend shopping spots, HD!  

Team Desciak

South Carolina Family

Jake (23)

Not getting much of a break  from College of Charleston ~ even though he spent a lot of time wrapping up assignments and final papers, he was up to showing us his shredding skills wake boarding!   He is looking forward to spending the next semester in Spain and traveling Europe.  

Jake is studying Communications/Spanish.  

Keegan (21)

Taking a nice break from wrapping up his classes, Keegan is looking forward to starting at UNC Willmington this Fall and studying Film.     So much knowledge of not only movies but the production of them.  Always happy and full of life, I love that he beats to his own drum and doesn’t get caught up in the drama of life.

Jared

Taking this summer off from College of Charleston, Jared is studying Elementary Education/Business.  I couldn’t think of a career more suitable!   Jared is a chamelion.  He has the ability to find interests with people of all ages and I strongly feel that any classroom with his lead will learn in a fun and meaningful way.  

Logan (15)

Determined, Logan set his mind to getting up on that wakeboard and no surprise with his athletic ability and 

grit got up.   You think he is pumped just a bit!!!   Awesome moment!!  LOVE him!  Logan is going to Bishop England HS and had a stellar X-Country season this year becoming a National Champion with his team mates on the 4 x 800 team.   PR ~ 16:55.  Big year ~ DRIVING!

Team Carey

Massachusetts Family

Jordan

Jordan spent the week getting psyched out of doing a back flip off the water trampoline… but made up for it in her dare devil jumps off the high dive and wake boarding expertise.  Jordan is kicking off her HS years this Fall at Masconomet HS and playing on the Freshman girls soccer team.   This summer, she is a Counselor at a day camp in our area and looking forward to going to Camp Rotary in August.

Garrett 

Garrett wrapped up elementary school this past June and is starting Middle School at Masconomet in the Fall.   Joining the X-Country team for the first time ~ he is burning his excess energy running.   This summer he is a CIT at a day camp in our town and looking forward to going to Camp Rotary (sleep away) Camp in August.

Ayden

With all three kids next year in different schools, Ayden is wrapping up her 4th grade year and will continue at Spofford Pond School.  Next year all three kids will be in different schools.  Ayden will be attending the day camp that Jordan & Garrett work at and will be doing her first sleep over camp in August. 

Not to be outdone by the kids...

Low Country Boil Cooks!

Pop Pop and Jordan do a little jam session on the dock…

Trixie (Ayden) set up her mobile salon and we all got pampered with facials!

These three = TROUBLE!

Sisters Rock!

BEST VACA EVER!

July 2017 -- Summer is HERE!

July 4th at Little Sebago Lake, ME

We kicked off July celebrating the 4th of July with our close friends at Little Sebago Lake. This is one of our favorite weekends out of the year!! Messy buns, no make up, sleeping in, GREAT food, MANY laughs… BEST memories! We are the outlaws — husbands brought us together thru their college bonds made years ago. Call me lucky!

With Chris’s work schedule, “date night” is often challenging to fit in… the kids however, plan our date nights for us. ~ Date Night IN ~Tonight we had full service. Ice bucket created out of Ayden’s blue berry picking bin made by Pop Pop. Who knew it was so versatile!

Cutest most exotic server ever!! Our night included, outdoor fire, great apps, musical entertainment and finished up with a neck/foot massage. It was great to have a date night in!

Finally attempted our first Low Country Boil thanks to my Moms gift and my sisters expertise.

I think we NAILED IT!

KIDS field trip to Boston to see my great friend Suzanne visiting from Florida.

So loved my time with Suz and miss living closer…

Another successful week of Apple camp! The technology this company has is incredible… wish I grew up learning some of the things my kids are exposed to.

Jordan decided to tryout for a summer softball league and made it! Didn’t realize we had so many nights at the fields but we made the best of game nights figuring out various ways to tail gate with Bella.

We have been in this house for three years and after hours of contemplating the exact pink to have on her walls, Ayden is finally painting her room and putting her personal touches into her space.

We kicked off summer with a great day exploring Newport, RI by boat with the Easley’s.

They know all the great spot in this area and we even had the chance to jump from the upper deck!

Girls gone wild! Love the crazy in Jen…

She makes living here fun!!!

Boys heading out for some pizza… Best looking delivery boys going!

While the pool was opened in May, the water is finally warm enough to make swimming worth while!

Sisters Rock… just hope they know that!

Planning an upcoming hiking trip to the summit of Mt. Washington. Ayden is trying out her new hiking socks and shoes. Only A can make a pair of grey oversized shoes look fashionable!

Our hotel accommodations for the hike… Welcome to the Carey hotel!

I am definitely in my happy place… but the kids are already asking me at this point “are we almost there” — we had just started!

Sitting at the base of Tuckerman's ravine. Crazy to think that people were just here skiing a few short weeks ago!

We were fortunate enough to summit Mt. Washington (Elevation 6,288 ft) get a tour of the weather station that recorded wind speed as high as 231 miles per hour. We toured the bunk house, kitchen, weather station and learned how the place is run 24/7 ~ 365 days a year. It takes a snowcat over 3 hours to drive the employees up the mountain in the winter!

In my happy place with my group!

Sad to leave the mountains but worth it to come home to my friend Jen visiting from Florida!!!!

We had a great couple of days catching up and laughing like crazy! So miss having her next door!

Just the fix I needed!

My Masco summer “tracksters” heading off to their first summer meet…

Can’t not post without a picture of Bella Jane… my coolest cat going! She has mastered the art of relaxation!! Happy summer!!

June Update 2017! Two Graduations!!!

Homemade Gnocchi — for Pasta Night!

at the Carey House with lead chef Ayden!

I have to admit... all of m kids enjoy being in the kitchen and I love the extra help - particularly with chopping.   I learn more about their days from the conversations we have around our kitchen counter. 

Jordan’s last bus ride to Middle School.. Can’t say this is such a big deal photo as she rides the same bus next year, gets dropped off at the same spot but just goes into the HS instead… lol!

UNFORTUNATELY.. I did not get Garrett getting on his bus, last day of Elementary school EVER and onto Middle school. Like most mornings he forgot a few things on the way out the door and we were scrambling. Typical Chaos! But he had a great last day anyway!!!

Out to lunch with my girl… the Middle School Graduate!

I cannot wait to see where life takes her… I could not be more blessed to have the children!!

Spending a lazy Friday afternoon on the front lawn with Bella. Waiting for Chris to come home from being away all week.

Garrett is quite the photographer!

It doesn’t take much to entertain ourselves! Can you guess who is who???

Kicking off the summer with the top off and our compass heading us to the beach!

One of my most common phrases…

SISTERS ROCK!

I hope these two realize how truly special it is to have siblings! Two girls with completely different yet complimentary personalities. One rugged, tough, determined the other frilly, silly and girly!

Add a bro in the middle and they are quite the team!

At a glance you would say that Jordan would be the adventurer… but the MVP out of the backfield is Ayden. First one in the pool (even unheated) and the last one out. There are nights we have to turn the lights out to make her come in!

Can’t exclude my true love… Bella and her best best best friend Benny!

First week of summer and heading off to camp. This year Jordan is an Intern and Garrett is kicking off his summer camping career as a CIT! Ayden… as a Camper!!!

Lucky for me the camp is only a mile from our house…

Setting off…

for a great day.. and a FANTASTIC Summer ahead!!!