Vacation! Deep Creek Lake, Maryland

Ahhhh vacation.
Why must you go by so fast?

A few weeks ago we took our first official vacation as a family of 3!
We didn’t go on a cruise this year or anywhere super spectacular – this was more of a focus on relaxation & rest vacation.

We spent the first part of our week at my family’s lake house on Deep Creek Lake in Maryland and spent the second half of the week up visiting Derrick’s parents & family.

Even though it was a focus on rest & relaxing – we still did a bunch of fun things! And Braelynn accomplished a bunch of “firsts”! Her first time mini-golfing, first time in the state of West Virginia, first hike in a state park, first boat ride, and first time meeting a whole bunch of members of the Abbey family she had never met yet!

We had a marvelous time & are already trying to figure out how to do it again!
[side note: most of the following photos are from my iPhone, but a few are from my “real” camera!]
[another side note: want to keep up-to-date on what’s going on with our family? Follow me on Instagram: @karabbey and Derrick on Instagram: @xscreamthrills]

Here’s our little diva!

We celebrated Ruby’s birthday! The last of the Eichelberger kids to leave the single digits & enter the world of doubles!

We had a piñata – Braelynn worked the rope with Grandpa.

You’d have thought they’d never had candy before!

We went to this AMAZING restaurant called Castiglia’s – omigosh – most amazing Italian food EVER!

Literally – the photos do not do it justice. I have never seen such large portions! I got the lasagna – ate about 1/3 of it [meaning I had cheese coming out my eyeballs I was so full] – we took the leftovers home & ate them for 2 more meals!! WHAT?! Where else can you get something like that?!

On our way out to go mini-golfing – we came across this giant snapping turtle in the middle of the road! They were able to get him moved off so he didn’t flip someone’s car – he was huge!

We went hiking at Swallow Falls State Park.

Getting ready for Braelynn’s first boat ride! We rode the boat over to UNO’s for lunch & then took a leisurely cruise around the lake.

Check out this bird! She is the most faithful mother ever! Every 3 minutes or so, she’d bring back a new bug for her babies – amazing!

We celebrated Derrick’s birthday as well – Braelynn thought she should partake in the ice cream!

On the road up to Derrick’s parent’s house!

Braelynn with her Great Grandma & Great Grandpa Abbey! She was a little sleepy!