A Weekend of Memories

I love that we have so many traditions with our friends and family. I haven’t been great about blogging and I’m sorry about that because I know I’ve forgotten some of our special moments and not been able to share them or record them, but at least I have pictures and many memories!

We had a lot of fun this summer, but one of our favorite memories is camping in early August at Pineview with our friends. This year about 14 families went with 6 boats and 2 jet skis. I wasn’t raised on the water. Not sure I ever went boating until once in college with a friend. But when our neighbors first took us boating several years ago, I realized how much I love it. I love being on the water … kind of like I always loved the sound of the waves and being at the beach (but I don’t need to be IN the water to enjoy it).

This year, Steve tried wake surfing for the first time and did really well.

All the girls tried skiing again and had much more success. They had two opportunities to try skiing … The first time was the first morning and we started from the shore.

Jess got up and loved it – no problem. She loved it and went quite a way before going down.

Alyssa got up with no problem too, and loved it.

Taylor took a lot more coaxing and it didn’t go as well, nor did she enjoy it!  She was up, but only for a few seconds and then she was done. 

When the kids weren’t on a boat tubing or skiing, they spent time in the sand, at the picnic tables playing games or at the volleyball court playing in the sand or swing. So much fun.

Alyssa got to spend time with Mady, a kid I love almost as much as my own. Mady and Alyssa have been great friends since they first met when Alyssa wasn’t quite 3 years old. There have been times when they were inseparable and times when they didn’t see as much of each other, but no matter what, they always love each other. Mady was always a great little girl to have around but she has really become a beautiful young lady and I am so proud of her and so grateful to have her and her family in our lives.

Steve’s favorite thing was definitely the jet skiis. Tammy rented two skis for the weekend and Steve probably spent as much time on them as anyone else. He loved just being out driving around. He took all three girls for trips out on them as well as he and I took a couple trips. One of the trips was a longer trip down toward the dam. On our way back, we stayed to the left and ended up in the other finger of the lake, LOST. We both got a little nervous (ok, Steve a little, me A LOT) when we realized we couldn’t find camp. But he figured it out and we got back without any problem.

Alyssa and Taylor both love to go tubing … Taylor is a speed demon and loves the thrill. She always wants to go faster.

I really appreciate that Steve strongly dislikes camping and yet he still tolerates it ... the good food probably helps a lot!

I mentioned that I love being on the water, but I don’t love being IN the water. I don’t feel confident swimming… ok it actually scares me half to death to be in water where I can’t touch bottom. The idea of being thrown into a pool turns my stomach. And the thought of wiping out on skis puts me into a panic. I know its an unrealistic fear, and it is one of the things I truly HATE about myself. I have promised to make sure to NOT pass it onto my children, which is why I push them to try things on the lake. I want my girls to feel completely comfortable and to even LOVE the water so they can enjoy their lives and not fear.

Every time we go to the lake, I try to work up enough courage to try skiing, wake boarding, or surfing. There have been times when I thought I was able to do it, but not with a ton of others on the boat (esp not my kids). I don’t want them to see y fear. So, this year, I finally got up the nerve and suggested we do an adults only trip out for a bit. I tried wake boarding. Before I got in the water, I was literally sobbing on the back of the boat. I am so grateful to a true friend who knows how badly I want to overcome this and knows how to talk me through it. He carefully lowered me into the water. As I sat in the water and waited for the rope to go taught, I reminded myself to breathe. I tried it about 5 or 6 times. I never got up, in fact, I never even let the rope pull me up far enough that I might flip forward, but considering the last time I let go of the rope before it even went taught, I was very proud of myself. This fear I have is something I will overcome and it is something I will NOT pass on to my girls. Thanks to the group on the boat who was so patient with me!

On the last day we were there, the girls had another chance to try skiing. It was just me, Michelle and Jason on the boat with the kids. Michelle sat in the water with the kids and helped them get up (then hung out in the lake while we let them ski a big circle). We’d loop around and let go of the rope just as we got back to Michelle so they weren’t down in the water by themselves. I held the rope while Jason drove the boat … leaving the girls to take the pics. Jason and Michelle’s daughter Makenna skied first. She showed the girls how to hold on with one hand and wave. But she has skied quite a bit, so I was totally caught off guard when Jessica popped up on the skis and dropped one hand to wave at us. The grin on her face was truly amazing!

When she got back on the boat, I asked her what she thought about skiing … this was her reaction!

Alyssa took two tries to get up, but once she did, she was happy as could be. She also managed to do one-handed and wave at us ... picture courtesy of Taylor so it is a little fuzzy. 

Then it was Taylor’s turn … and we had to really BEG for her to try. Ok, we had to threaten and bribe a bit too --- Jason would give her a kiss if she didn’t get in the water and I’d buy her treats at the store if she got in! She may be a thrill demon when it comes to roller coasters and tubing but skiing, is not her thing. She got up and on the skis and lasted about 30 seconds. We tried a second time and she was up about 20 seconds. She started to lean quite a bit so I thought she was going down and I let go of the rope. Unfortunately, Alyssa hit the wrong button on the camera and turned it off so she didn’t get any pictures. And after the 2nd wipeout, Tay was done. I got her back in the boat and warm and then asked her about how it felt when she was standing up on the skis. She admitted that she liked it … which was HUGE! We took this picture of me and her to remind us that she really did like it. SUCCESS!

Next, it was time for knee boarding. Taylor agreed to try it with her friend Makenna. Makenna is Taylor's best friend. She loves her with all her heart and would do almost anything for her (knee board and ski, yes, eat food - no luck...). Makenna and Taylor have been in school classes together every year but first grade. They are great friends and I am really grateful for Makenna's peacemaker, calming influence in the lives of my girls. This picture showed one of my favorite moments ... the girls just having a ton of fun together!

Alyssa tried to convince Tay to stay in the water with her, but Taylor wasn't sold on that idea. We had shore started her with Makenna but starting her out in the middle of the lake didn't go over as well, so Alyssa got a turn by herself. Before she got in, Jason had explained how to do a 360. Alyssa said she wasn't interested in doing it and I told her to listen, just in case some time she wanted to try it. We weren't going very long at all when she tried it ... she dropped those hands down to her hip and then let go with one hand and forced her hand behind her back ... 180! Kneeboarding backward!

And then, like it was no big deal at all, she let go and turned back around! 360! Way to go Alyssa!  Very first try ever!  So proud of you.  I had no idea she would do it so I didn't video the first try.  So we had her try again and after 2 more tries she got it again so we could show dad video. 

Another amazing weekend, with great friends, in a beautiful place … memories we’ll always cherish. Thanks Steve for putting up with camping for us to have all of this!