Kayaks- Big and Small

The girls set their tent up- obviously when you are 10 and 11 this is a highlight of the trip.

Even though you had to sleep on a matt... right Annaliesse. On the other hand Mom lets you have the SMILE phone in the tent to use as a flashlight, which is also a handy dandy camera. So you can take pictures when most likely had other things to do. 

Uncle Mark and Lindsay and the girls AND Aunt Laura and Mile came late Thursday night. The kids were thrilled to see their cousins- seriously thrilled.

Friday we headed to Surveyors Lake. Thanks for the suggestion Sister Cathy Anderson- amazing suggestion. We headed over Friday morning and took enough supplies to sink a battleship. I freaking kid you not- between the paddle board, our kayak, Miles 2 Adult kayaks, massive floating tube, floatie tubes, sand toys, paddles, lifejackets, coolers of DP, coolers of lunch, swimsuits and towels, books and lawn chairs, shade tents and baby equipment. A part of me was ready to quit before we had even finished unloading.

But once we had unloaded, before we had finished setting up, the kids were out on the lake. It was still early enough not a ton of people were there yet, the lake was calm and the turtles were swimming and sunbathing. Once the kids found the turtles, not just one but 15 or so sunbathing on a log, they were out in those Kayaks and the paddle board for a while. You should see those kids on the kayaks- we have had our kid kayak for 3 years now and Remy and Barker are amazing at it. It is nothing for Remy to paddle all over this late and have no issue. She is fine and talented with that kayak, even though this Momma insists that an adult or big sister is close enough in another floatie when she is paddling all over the world.

Those turtles were the funnest part of the day, Barker at some point after watching turtles for a hour or so had a real dilemma.  He was sitting soaking wet in a lawn chair, eating a sandwich contemplating about if he should swim or not. Yes he had already gotten wet, but hadn't "swam".
He was telling me "I don't want to swim in turtle poop"
😂😂😂😂
His 8 year old brain got over it pretty quick after Aunt Lindsay had her big floatie blown up and in the water. Turtle poop is only so scary.

Not only did the kids enjoy the kayaks, so did the adults. Mark was determined to try the kayak. Never mind he was slightly too big for it... paddled out to the middle of the lake and partially sank it. There was so much water in it he couldn't really move very well. Laura was out on the paddle board and helped him back to shore. It was great laugh for those of us on the shore.

This was not the last time we sank one of those kayaks.

Man we had a good day on this lake shore. And just after lunch a friend showed up at the same lake!! Out of nowhere I see Jen walking down to shore with her four kids. I met Jen through craft group last year and we have been friends since. I wish we saw more of each other, our kids go to different schools, do different sports and our schedules DO NOT mesh- but the few times we see each other and our kids see each other we mesh. Well that was a long explanation.

Jen showed up with her kids! YAY!
Our kids played for HOURS with their friends. It added new life into the kids who have been playing solely with siblings and cousins for weeks. The big girls got right into the kayak, attached 2 tubes to the back of the kayak and away they went. Barker and Remy with Jens 2 youngers paddle to the turtles on the paddle board, baby kayak and big kayak. The jumped off the dock, played in the sand and had a great time. Jen and I visited while we swam/watched and enjoyed the mini break from our kids. All was going well until we registered the MOM screaming.

It's summer, kids scream all the time. While we were visiting, we heard kids laughing and screaming and playing. Now there were some kids who were super loud- it looked like it was coming from a big group out in the middle of the lake. We ignored it, and kept visiting. 10 minutes later we hear the MOM and it sounds like its my kids, Jen thinks it her kids.. IT WAS OUR KIDS!

The girls had tied the 2 tubes to the kayak and headed across the lake. I guess the paddler of the kayak kept getting tired and so they kept switching. Switching and switching until they had let so much water in the kayak it had sank! I ran to the bank, grabbed the other kayak and was paddling out to them pretty darn quick. Lucky THIS is one of the many reasons kids were lifejackets. This mom untied the tubes and pulled the kayak back to shore. It was funny because all the safety sets that we take. A fun adventure.

                          

We ended the day with dinner at the trailer and a dance party. 

Arlie wasn't too sure about Aunties dance moves- but neither are my kids so......