See you by the lake

I awoke yesterday feeling grumpy. It was a beautiful, late summer day. It needed to be enjoyed by children. But I was having trouble finding enthusiasm for doing anything that required getting out of bed. My friend and I had talked about going to the shore, but I just couldn't pull the gumption to head to New Jersey on a Friday. I went to the gym and then we decided to try out this (free!) lake north of Allentown. I had been there once before on a hair-brained bid to get out of the house with a 3yo and a 6week old. Not one of my finer moments. This was my first time returning.

It was perfect. The water was absolutely clear, and a refreshing temperature (not too hot, too cold), and shallow enough for the younger kids to enjoy playing. The man-made beach provided plenty of sand for digging. And the backdrop of the mountains gave a relaxing vista. They cleverly set up the boating area beyond the swimming area, so that the swimmers could enjoy the "faux" waves from the wake of the boats.

We stayed for four hours, still finding difficulty in prying ourselves away, though the shadows were long. It turned out to be the perfect day.