Just You Wake and Ski

Self-Portrait of Pure Happiness

We have been fortunate to have beautiful weather the last couple weekends at the cabin.  This has given us plenty of opportunity to get out on the water.  We have a constant rotation of double passenger tube, water skis, and wake board behind the jet ski.  Two weeks ago, I tried to ski for the first time in my life.  I failed.  Last weekend, I tried again.  I failed.  I tried both youth skis and adult skis.  I'm claiming that I am too heavy for the youth set and too short for the adult set so I'm holding out for the in-between junior set.  However, it is quite entirely possible that it is not the skis but rather the skier that is the hindrance to success.  But I did try...repeatedly.  I tried until I felt like my hip and shoulder were going to come out of their socket.  Then I figured, that was enough trying for one day.

Blake has learned how to ski, but what he really loves is wake boarding.  Henry bought him a board at the beginning of the summer.  Blake was beyond excited.  And then he tried, and tried, and tried, and tried, but could not get up.  And once he got up, he wiped out, and wiped out, and wiped out.  He begged for us to buy him the wake board which means he was not allowed to give up.  Henry kept asking around for advice on how to both get up and how to pull someone up.  After many attempts, they both figured out what they needed to do.  Now, Blake is tireless out there cutting through the wake and even getting a little air.  I am so happy that he kept trying because it is so great to see him out there grinning from ear to ear!

Paige is our little 'Ski Cat' and has improved greatly since her first attempt earlier this summer.  She did not get up the first time she strapped on skis, but our fearless little dare-devil didn't let go of the rope either.  I'm sure it was only a second or two that she held that rope in a death grip, but for a mother watching helplessly from the dock, it felt like an eternity.  I doubt she could hear our screams of "Let go of the Rope!  Let go now!" while her head was submerged under water and still being pulled behind the jet ski.  It would have actually looked quite humorous had it not been my baby girl.  So did this deter her from giving it another try?  This is Paige we are talking about, it didn't even phase her.  It has only been a month since her first attempt, yet she pops right out of the water with ease, waves as she sails past the dock, and cuts back and forth through the wake.  So awesome!  

Life is Good!

9th Inning Stretch

Baseball season ended last week for Blake.  It was a great season and he is pretty excited for next summer when he moves up to the next level and the game structure is more true.  Blake knew most of the kids on his team from school and activities.  They were a great group of kids that tried their best and had a great time.  I love watching Henry and Blake play catch in the backyard and to see how much he has improved since last summer.  And is there a better way to spend a summer weekday evening than watching a youth baseball game?  Notice I clarified weekday...

...because this is how I like to spend the weekends!  The kids had the chance to play a handful of backyard games this summer and always have a fantastic time.  This is a game from last weekend when we had 18 people (10 kids) up at the cabin.  We have officially changed gear to whiffle balls and plastic bats to make it more friendly since the kids range in age from 3 to 13.  This welcome change also greatly reduced the number of times we had to go lost ball hunting in the trees.  Paige said she wants to give softball a try next summer.  We may have to have a little conversation about appropriate attire/uniform!