Family Scrapbook: Lake Chautauqua

Every year, Brandon’s Dad’s side of the family and some family friends head up North to New York State to visit Lake Chautauqua- one of our own family’s favorite places on earth. We stay at an 1880’s hotel called The Lenhart, a picturesque yellow structure on the Lake in Bemus Point.  With old photographs everywhere, antique and original wallpaper, plumbing, furniture, lace curtains and no heat or air conditioning to speak of, the place seems like it’s out of an old movie set.   Most of the rooms do not have their own bathrooms though somehow my father-in-law always gets us one that does (thank goodness seeing as toddlers pee so much) and we got to take advantage of the claw foot tub. The girls absolutely loved boating this year with Gracie turning into a little captain extraordinaire with her new buddy Greg and learning to drive.  These girls have water in their future thanks so these experiences which bodes well for me later in life!  We got to go fishing, hang out together for hours on end in the rocking chairs lining the porch, eat great food, watch the sunsets and shop – just what we needed for a little relaxing and reconnecting before the crazy season of school and homework and schedules starts up again.

Enjoying a little rain on the boat dock.  She loves hearing it plink and looks all around at the trees, the coverings of the boats, and the water to hear the different raindrop sounds. Makes me so happy to see!

One of the best parts of this hotel is the massive front porch lined with rocking chairs. There is literally nothing more relaxing!

So much time with Daddy is their favorite thing on this planet. It’s always a hard Monday when Daddy is back at work after vacation! Hard on everyone.

Living that boat life with a giant chocolate cake, fishing pole and nothing but sun and water.

Special thanks to those two fantastic people on the right there- my father in law Kurt and his wife Aimee. We love being included in this yearly tradition and are so grateful for the time we get to spend with family. 

Until next year.

xoxo

-J