250, Pt. I

Hi fellow patriots.

For the first time in two or three years, the Houghs returned to Eight Point Lake for the Fourth of July weekend. Last year, as you'll recall, the place was essentially a ghost town due to unprecedented (at least in recent memory) low lake levels. The water line was so low that it was difficult getting boats in the water, and consequently the whole draw for being up there in the first place - enjoying the lake via tubing circuits and sunset cruises, not to mention outings to the Sandbar - was off the table. 

Alayna and Sebastian left the house before we did. 

The last couple of years, we've instead hung back and enjoyed the holiday weekend with our local Tribe, setting up shop at the Bos residence for pool parties and the like. We would have done so again this year (though the Pickvets ended up hosting a pool party this year), but we were all chomping at the bit to return to the lake. With lake levels nearly back to normal, and with the weather about as awesome as you could want it, there was nothing stopping our family (and hangers on) from loading up into a few vehicles and heading up to the family lakehouse for a weekend away.

We left this afternoon, which was later than usual for us (we like to roll in in the late morning in order to set everything up and take full advantage of the day), but we had to wait for Abby to get out of work. Seeing how she moves at a snail's pace with getting out the door, we didn't end up reaching the lake until like 3:30pm in the afternoon. Upon establishing headquarters, we blew up the floating raft, got some drinks in our hand, and set ourselves in full-blown 'lake mode.'

Behold the following pics and videos, detailing our first afternoon and evening on Eight Point Lake for the Fourth of July. . .

En route to the lake, Abby and Ella making the 'chud' face. . . again.

The cooler set up out back for the weekend, as always.

The amount of pics and video these two girls took of each other this weekend is staggering.

These two changed into life jackets right away, while Yours Truly went around with Dad down to the pole barn in order to retrieve the pair of new kayaks they bought for the lake.

After settling into our usual room (the only room I've ever slept in up at the lake house, come out think of it), Kris set to work blowing up our giant, inflatable raft. While she relaxed in the sun, Dad and I attempted to get the jet ski up and running, but the battery was dead. After a quick run to the Boat Doctor - neither of us remembering to bring a wallet or phone - he decided he'd go back later and buy a replacement battery for it (the one in the jet ski was five years old, so it was clearly at the end of its life.)

With all the running around out of the way, I got to join everyone else on the raft and relax for a bit.

I bought this 'Happy Dad' seltzer at that Buc-ee's we stopped at in Kentucky last month. Felt like the appropriate time to break it out.

Hanging out with the kids, being good role models.

Hope you're ready for a ton of Abby/Ella selfies today. . .

The skies were looking a little sketchy this afternoon, but we lucked out and the cloud cover blew right over.

The Notorious B.I.G. would be proud.

Kris shared the previous seltzer pic of hers with her friends, and one of them asked what color liquid it was. So, being the ever diligent friend she is, she started to pour some out in her hand to check, and I had to send a pic to her friends of her doing so.

While we were busy enjoying the raft, Abby and Ella took the golf cart out for a 'quick ride,' but then got lost and drove out way too far. We tracked them on Life360 and they were a LONG ways out, so I called Abby and made her turn around for the cart's battery died and they were stranded in the middle of Hicktown in nothing but their bikinis.

Dad and his neighbor, trying to get the jet ski up and running. . .

It was getting close to dinner time (our late arrival threw our usual schedule off), and Cindy got busy grilling up some burgers for everyone.

Sebastian and the Cannonball

The Dead Battery

Folks drifted inside to grab food once it was ready, and take a break from the water for a bit.

Dad and Cindy bought Alayna a computer to use in college for her Open House gift, and hadn't yet had an opportunity to give it to her.

Dad picked this model out, based on a bunch of reviews he went through and spec research, etc.

Samson did surprisingly well with the two, larger dogs my parents own. He's a pretty passive dog (compared to Watson, who dominated everything he came across), but he managed to survive the weekend.

The MacBook Neo (pink, of course.)

Cindy handed me a loofah that I had left up at the cottage a couple years ago, the last time we had stayed up there for a weekend or whatever. Probably at this time.

Taking the golf cart out for another spin. With the jet ski down, and it starting to cool off to the point where getting wet was no longer ideal, this thing came in handy for sure.

Johnson and her freakish toe grab.

Cart selfie.

Couple pic on the back deck.

The weather was turning out to be pretty ideal for a sunset cruise around the lake, so Dad offered the kids a pontoon ride before calling it a night.

Yes, even walking down the dock requires a selfie, folks.

As does sitting in the pontoon under the hoist canopy while waiting for other people to board. . .

Reversing out off the hoist, fortunately not having to merge into traffic.

This sunset cruise was more or less a photo shoot for these two ('cause you always need content for your socials.)

Abby brought along her point-and-shot camera (because those relics from the mid-2000s - the MySpace Era - are making a huge comeback with the Gen Z/Gen Alpha crowd.)

Abby, staring off into the distance. For the aesthetic.

At least it kept them entertained while us adults listened to classic rock.

As usual, once rounding the Sandbar we made a loop into the inlet where the cottage we rented for almost twenty years sits. Always good to pop in and see the old place.

The old stomping grounds.

Cindy and her roommates.

We heard loud music coming from the swampy area of the lake (at the northwest corner), and at first folks thought it was just a loud speaker. But I heard the drums, and I knew those were live drums. Sure enough, as we passed by, there was a live band playing out on the back deck.

I guess these guys would be performing on a barge at the Sandbar tomorrow. Not something I'd do with thousands of dollars worth of music equipment, but whatever - what do I know.

Abby and Oliver

Abby and Ella

(Not sure what's happening here. . .)

Mediocre night for sunsets - we've seen worse, for sure, but we've seen some really, really awesome ones over the years, too.

I seriously hate the whole 'scuba' thing kids are doing these days. If you don't know what I'm talking about, consider yourself lucky.

Another selfie under the hoist canopy as we pulled back into port. 'Cause why not.

So ends our first night at the lake. We all turned in at a reasonable time this evening, as we wanted to get up early and enjoy as much of the following day as possible. Stay tuned. . .

- to be continued. . .