The Cannonball Turns 12: Coronavirus Edition

Alayna decided on a tropical theme this year.

What's up, guys.

The Cannonball turned 12 today, which is totally surreal and doesn't seem possible.  As with Abby's birthday the previous month, there wasn't a whole hell of a lot we could do in terms of celebrating, what with the Covid-19 pandemic and everything.  While the Stay at Home Order has been relaxed somewhat, a lot of parents are still pretty guarded with everything, including letting their child hang out at a kid's birthday party.

Ready for the following day's festivities.

As such, this year - as with Abby's - we were forced to keep things simple.  One or two close friends (whose parents we were familiar with), keeping things outdoors as much as possible, and then having a sleepover at the end of the night.  Alayna's BFF, Maddie, was out of state visiting family, so unfortunately she couldn't attend this year, but Alayna's close friends Christina and Sylvia were able to (thank God.)  I did curbside pickup at a restaurant of Alayna's choosing (she went with Olive Garden, of all things), and afterwards they girls spent the day swimming in the neighbors' pool (who were nice enough to allow us to use it for the day.)  Sylvia ended up staying the night, and Alayna's birthday came off without a hitch.  Which, honestly, is saying something in these bizarre times of ours.

Anyway, I'll leave you now with the usual dosage of pics and video.

Enjoy.

First thing in the morning, right out of the gate, Alayna wanted to open presents.  She started with cards from relatives (she's a big fan of receiving cash these days.)

This was her big gift from us this year. . . .

I usually save the big present for last, and prefer to do the small ones first, as I feel there's a natural build-up that way.  But whatever. . . .

(This took her forever to open this simple, cardboard box.)

Once you see down Watson's asshole, you can't un-see it.  (You're welcome.)

Alayna has been bothering us for a hoverboard for years, but we've held off because reviews for these things have been dismal.  However, after a couple of years of being on the market, the build quality has improved, the price has dropped, and many of the mechanical and electrical kinks have been worked out.  We almost bought her one for Christmas, but went with a phone instead, so for her birthday this year this was a no-brainer.

You can bet your ass I did a ridiculous amount of research and pulled the trigger on the highest-rated one I could find.  She's already a pro at riding it, since many of her friends have them now as well.

The model I selected came with flashing LED lights, Bluetooth functionality (so she can stream music from her phone to the hoverboard's built-in speakers), and a pretty long battery life.

(Thank God I had charged this up the night before. . . .)

After playing around with the hoverboard, it was time for Round 2 of gift-opening. This was a set of LED Lights, much like her sister's (whom she got the idea from), just longer in feet (Alayna wanted hers to wrap around the entirety of her ceiling) and with Bluetooth functionality (so the lights would match up with the music playing on her phone.)

She's been wanting an organizer for her make-up for awhile.  'Cause middle school.

Per the Cannonball's request, we were having bacon and eggs for breakfast. . .

Can you imagine taking a kid from the '80s and transporting them to today and showing them shit like this?  My head would've exploded.

Later on in the morning, after Kris left for work, Mom and John swung by to give Alayna some more gifts to open up. . .

This Paris-themed throw pillow was off of her Amazon list, and matches the rest of her existing bed set.

She's been wanting this book ever since she finished the previous installment in the series.

A hoodie, also off her Amazon list.  It's from Harry Potter, and, as an Adult Small, is pretty huge on her, but that's how she likes her sweatshirts. . . . so, whatever.

After we ran out to Olive Garden for lunch, the girls high-tailed it for the neighbors' pool. . .

We spent forever in this pool today.

Gotta love this classic pool game. . .

In the evening, after Kris got back from work and the kids had eaten dinner, it was time for cake and ice cream. . .

Kris wants none of Abby's accident-prone 'help.'

Alayna wanted a simple cake this year (anything overly decorated is kid stuff, right?)

Long consideration for Birthday Wishes. . . .

(Got 'em all in one blow this year.)

The Sausage, exhausted from the days' heat and shenanigans.

Christina and Sylvia.

The War Zone

Alayna, Sylvia, and Christina in front of some cheap-ass photo op background Kris found at the store. . .

. . . .aaaaand one with her sister.

This about sums it up, folks.

- Brian

Eight Point Lake '19, Pt. III

(contd.)

Day I

"Cabin Fever and the Great Flamingo Rescue"

The big rain storm that had been threatening us on and off throughout the course of the previous two days finally arrived in the early morning hours, with tiny windows of respite scattered here and there so one could sneak out to take a quick picture of the lake.

Everything was soaked, and two of the girls' floaties - the Swan and the Flamingo - were both missing in action, despite being placed over a dock pole so they wouldn't blow away (yes, the overnight storm was that intense.)  We assumed at first they had blown further into the inlet, and would make it a point throughout the day, whenever there was a break in the weather, to go out and look for them.  

Killing time while it comes down in buckets outside.   Bradley and more of his f***ing magic tricks. . .

Another round of pure garbage rolls in outside.   Not that you'd know it by this picture, but it's late in the morning here.

Watson keeps a close eye on a passing flotilla of geese.  Just in case.

 

Bored games.

We should've counted ourselves lucky:  most of the lake was without power, but we were miraculously spared.

Chris and Nicole, who usually only come up for one day every year, drove up with their twin boys later in the morning.  Seeing how the weather was absolute garbage, though, they decided to hang out for an hour or so and then return tomorrow, when it was supposed to be nicer out.

Cooking with Nana.

Papa and Samwise.

Uncle Bryan tries offering Louis a mushy banana.  'Cause kids love that sorta shit.

Showing Sam (or Louis, I can't really tell) the new boat.

A lazy, blah day in the cottage.

Bring it on, Michigan. . .

This Jungle Cruise-looking boat randomly drove by the Cottage early in the afternoon.  Who the hell owns a boat like this?

Kids and screens.  Anything to keep them entertained at this point.

Still super crappy out.  Just in case you were curious.

Jax sucked at this game.

Christina appreciates my camera flash.  You can totally tell.

Teenage boys and this frickin' hand sign. . .

Catching a nap, 'cause honestly what the hell else is one to do?  If anything, this day produced some damn fine sleeping weather.

During a brief period of clear skies, the kids went out to fish a little.  Fish like rainy weather, or so I'm told.  I guess.  I don't know, I'm not a fishologist or anything.

More of this.

By this point in time, late in the afternoon, we had all been cooped up in the cottage all day, with only brief moments of respite to go outside and get some fresh air.  Dad and I took the pontoon out halfway around the lake in order to look for the missing floaties, but sudden bursts of lightning cut our quest short and we were forced to high-tail it across the lake at top speed in order to avoid being electrocuted.  We were also able to take the dogs out for a walk, which was nice 'cause you were able to stretch your legs out a little bit, but, for the most part, this was our day.

The younger adults (I'd say 'young adult' but we're all pushing 40 now) went out onto the pontoon boat to listen to music and have a couple drinks under the boat's canopy, no longer able to stand it indoors anymore.

Bryan and Chelsey ran into town earlier in the afternoon and were nice enough to pick this up for me, knowing that imperial stouts are my absolute favorite type of beer.  This one was incredible.

Bryan and Brian grilled us some beer-can chicken for dinner this evening, an annual Cottage staple.  All the more appreciated this time around because they grilled in the frickin' rain.

These birds were killed so I could put them in my belly, and I'm 100% cool with this.

The weather FINALLY broke in the late evening, just in time to light a fire and load the boat up for an evening cruise around the lake.

Glad to be out of the f***ing Cottage at long last.

Bryan at the helm for the evening's cruise.  Bro Country it is. . .

What the hell's going on with Jill's face here?

The previous storms made for some decent cloud formations for our obligatory sunset pictures. . .

We had the girls keep an eye out for the missing floaties as we made our way around the lake.  The game was afoot. 

(I like to think I do a pretty good job with these.)

Still on the lookout. . .

Why isn't this your desktop wallpaper yet?

As we approached the far-side of the lake, the girls spotted something bright and pink along the shoreline. . .

After a day's worth of searching, we finally found Christina's Flamingo, caught between a random cottage's dock and boat.  The current at this point in the lake was too strong for Bryan to be able to park the pontoon close to the dock without having the it bash against it, so Bryan was forced to pull into the shallows and try and keep the boat in place - going forward and backwards - while I jumped off the front, ran over, climbed the dock, and rescued the floaty.

It was really caught up in there - I was surprised it wasn't punctured.

Nothing short of heroic, folks.

Success.

Victorious, we continued to putt around the lake, keeping an eye out for Alayna's swan.

Storm clouds were beginning to roll in again, threatening us with yet another storm system for the evening, so we sped up a bit and made our way back to the Cottage.

Enjoying some of that imperial stout.

Winos

Tomfoolery in the kitchen after most of the family went to bed.

Brians.

(to be concluded. . .)

- Brian