Lakes, horse races, and the complete absence of pants.

Sometimes, weekends are just idyllic. Even if they kick off with a Wednesday night in the emergency room. Not that Dad let Finley suffer much. (Ear infection be damned-- we're eating Reese's!)

We made it through the week, and Friday night found us up to our knees in muddy lake water, deep in South Carolina, having survived a frantic half day, nutty kids-sleeping grocery stop, and search for decent beer in the real, live Bible belt.

No matter, we made it to the lake in time for Friday night friends, fishing, paddling, s'mores, and completely reasonable pants-lessness. What else are lakes for, after all?

Saturday morning brought sleeping in, nudity, and bacon (is there really anything more to life?)

followed by a long, hot, dusty, hilarious, mint julep- flavored, tailgate food-fueled day at the races.

For which Finley and I wore matching hats,

Finley got covered in dirt anyway,

Seth and Ford actually watched (and bet on) the races,

the kids loved the "horse parade" before the race the best,

one of us drank allthechampagne, and

Ford discovered the beauty of melted gelato on a hot day.

 

In true South Carolina fashion, the afterparty included watersports in our finery,

reenactors (and cannons!)

and tired, tired kids. #winning

There were way too many great photos of lake life and horse race fun and kids running around like hooligans to pick just one this weekend, but I'm partial to this one (of Ford getting caught in the bathroom covered in Nutella on a Sunday morning)

this incredible shot of a central South Carolina mimosa,

and a happy kid (pantsless, naturally) upon our arrival home, after a long drive but a lovely and much-needed R&R weekend.