Sherando Lake

Our first big activity in Virginia was going to Sherando Lake.  Drew and his family swam and had picnics there lots growing up.  The last time we were there as a family was the summer of 2009.  I was pregnant with Elena and that seems like forever ago!  To make going swimming in a lake even more fun was the addition of swimming with cousins.  Two of Drew's sisters and their families came to VA for the weekend as well.  It was a total family affair with just Lara and family missing.  

So, back to the lake.  It is nestled in between some small mountains and is just in the most quaint pretty setting.  We went early in the day and almost had the lake/beach to ourselves.  It was the perfect day for swimming and playing in the sand.

Emma, Lauren, Madeline, Mary, and Elena.  The only girl missing was Claire.

Mary and Elena

Everyone in this picture is a cousin....all 12 of them.....Colin, Elena, Claire, Mary, Luke, Hayden, Samuel, Madeline, Lauren, John, Jonah, and Emma.  There was a little island behind the kids and not very far from shore.  Colin, who is 13, so kindly invited Jonah to swim to it with him.  Jonah is not a great swimmer, but he did it and had fun playing on the island.  The island can also be reached from a path and a very short swim from the shore.  Jonah also organized a boy hike to the island with Drew and Meemaw supervising.  

Elena spent most of the day playing in the sand.  She loved it!

Emma practiced her gymnastics from the brick wall!

Jonah doing who knows what....being Jonah!

Samuel also loved building sand castles.

Another girl cousin picture....Emma, Madeline, Claire, and Mary with their sand castles.

We played for about 4 hours.  Everyone was getting a little tired when it started to rain.  It was a perfectly timed shower.  There was no debate with the kids about leaving.  Swimming at a lake was on the kid's bucket list for the summer.  Another item checked off our list and we could not have had a better time!