Summer '25's Lone Eight Point Excursion

What's up, Internet.

Stopped off at Lake General Store for some supplies before reaching the lake.

This summer's been unique in the sense that we haven't undertaken a single Eight Point Lake trip whatsoever. Everyone's schedules have been insane this year: the Whites are busy as all hell with Jax's baseball season, Chris and Jeff are occupied with their young kids, and we almost always have insanely-packed weekends (as you've seen in previous posts.) Usually by the time we will have all been up to the lakehouse for a couple overnight trips by this point - at least for the go-to Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends - but it just wasn't in the cards this year.

Looks like our neighbors copied our giant, inflatable raft idea. . . .

Finally, today, my folks decided to try and get the whole family up there for at least a day trip. Somehow, the planets aligned and everyone was able to make this Sunday work: while the lake level was still insanely low - lower than it's been for twenty-some years, I was told - the weather was perfect (sunny and high 70s for most of the day.) We got there around lunchtime, same as my brothers and their respective families, and the Whites rolled in an hour or two after us (because Jill runs habitually late, as a general rule.)

(I'm a snappy dresser, what can I say. . .)

We spent most of the day out on the lake, tubing and sandbar'ing, which is ideal. Then, after everyone had eaten dinner, folks packed up and headed home. So yeah, a short trip - we didn't even bother hauling the dogs up with us - but it was great to be able to get some lake in this summer, even if it was brief.

I'll leave you now with a bunch of pics and video that we took throughout the day.

Enjoy. . .

When we rolled in, my brother Chris and his family were already there and his kids were all soon swimming in what's left of the lake (which had receded far back from the sea wall.) My folks got a pic of the girls as they headed down to the water.

As always, the second the Whites rolled in - an hour or so behind us - Brian was forced to immediately report to his boat to start shuttling kids around on the lake in a tube. I offered to help him out with spotting, since misery loves company.

You might not be able to tell, but the water here is far shallower than I've ever seen it. Which is great if you're like four years old and don't know how to swim.

My cousin Rachel came along too so her daughter could try tubing behind Brian's boat, but first we let Jax and Owen get beat up for awhile in order to get it out of their system.

Waiting for Owen to swim back to the tube after he was thrown off. After they had gone fast for a bit we pulled them in so that Rachel's kid could hop on for a spell.

Puttin' along.

Abby was looking for more of a high-intensity thrill ride, more akin to what Jax and Owen had gotten previously, but her turn paired her up with Kinsley and Rachel's kid. . . soooo it was super boring. She was a good sport about it, though.

WEEEEEEEEEEE

Jax (standing), Owen and Levi have a turn on the tube.

Like the crew of the U.S.S. Indianapolis.

I was hoping Brian would've cranked the wheel hard and thrown him, but he never was able to.

Coming in from the boating venture, it was time for some mid-afternoon snacks - courtesy of Nana - up in the kitchen.

Dips galore.

After folks had grabbed something to eat, we started loading up the boat with supplies for an hours-long stint up at the now-enormous Sandbar (which is even more prolific now that the water level is so damn low.)

So many people were going that Brian had to make a couple trips out there. I was on the first wave with Carissa, Rachel, Abby, Jax, Owen, Kinsley, and Rachel's kid.

Kids explore the newly-revealed shallows around the Sandbar.

A couple years ago I met the guy that made this and complimented him on his work. It's so handy to have a cup-holder up here all year, every year.

The giant-ass Sandbar, bigger and better than ever (except for all the seagull poop that's scattered everywhere now - they've discovered the Sandbar thanks to the receding waters.)

When the second wave of people arrived, Jill brought up a volleyball from the lakehouse and they (sort of) got a game going.

Chris and his boys.

The Cannonball was on music detail this afternoon, streaming one of her playlists to my JBL (hooked on the back of the chair.)

The Cannonball takes a few selfies for her social media presence (I assume.)

Nicole, Kris, Carissa, and Jeff (and someone's kid, I can't tell which one.)

Jax found a turtle over in the lily pads and brought it over for everyone to check out.

You'd think he had just uncovered a gold ingot or something the way everyone stood around gawking at it. It's a turtle, guys - chill out.

Chris and brought out the jet ski so he could give his kids rides if they got bored at the Sandbar (which only holds kids' interest for so long.)

Carissa, Alayna and Kris. 

The Borthers

Oldest to Youngest, as the law dictates.

More volleyball.

Heading back to the lakehouse after a couple sun-soaked hours at the Sandbar.

Alayna and Kris

I need a haircut again, I look like a homeless man.

Coming ashore, just around dinner time. Jill's probably directing me to grab something.

I've had the lime variety of this, but saw this pilsner offering up at the Lake General Store and figured I'd give it a go. It was meh.

Lucy was up visiting - her and my folks hung back at the lakehouse while we were out with all the kids. They were the smart ones.

Scarlett is approaching her teenage phase, if you can't tell.

Kris, Jill, and some of the kids accompanied Brian out on one, final tubing adventure after dinner (I hung back since I don't like riding backwards on a boat after eating, always makes me nauseous.)

Heading out with Bradley and his friend (didn't catch his name) on the chariot tube.

(Abby took this video, I think.)

Back on shore after the tubing venture, folks began to pack up their crap and gather up their kids. We'd been up there for about seven hours, and folks were pooped from a full day in the sun.

Who got out the volleyball?

After saying our goodbyes, one by one the siblings and their families - us included - headed off for home. Abby conked out immediately and slept the entire way back to Midland.

Minutes after we had pulled out of the driveway, my buddy Sara - Trevor's wife - texted me a pic of our cottage as they puttered by in a pontoon (capturing Kinsley heading up the stairs in the process.) Apparently they were up at the lake visiting our mutual friend, Matt Lee, who had just arrived a day before from San Francisco. We had tried to connect while we were up at the Sandbar earlier in the day, but he was in the middle of family crap and couldn't escape. Would've been cool to see all of them while we were up there but we had a good time just hanging out with just the family today. Sucks the lake situation was so crappy this year - we're hoping next summer is a return to form.

- Brian

The Cannonball's Sweet 16, Pt. II

(contd.)

The next morning, around 10am or so, I loaded up Ella and Abby (and the dogs) and headed out to our family lakehouse on Eight Point Lake. We were skeptical about the weather at first but it ended up being sunny and high-70's for the majority of our time up there.

Kris, Alayna, and four of her friends - Maddie, Lexi, Amelia, and Toby - rolled in about an hour and a half after us, by which point in time I had successfully blown up Kris' floating raft and established headquarters. With the girls' help, we were able to carry it over the sand and rocks of the beach area and place it in the newly-expanded swimming area by the docks.

The lake water level is considerably lower than in previous years, to the point where the boat launches couldn't function in their usual spots. To remedy this, Dad bought a 20-foot extension for the dock in order to house the boats in deeper water, but since these were installed a day or two before our arrival, there still hadn't been time to install the launches. . . meaning we were without boats on this particular visit.

The girls were placated with sunbathing on the raft for the time being, and I had psyched myself up to the realization that I'd be shuttling kids about the lake on the jet ski for the duration of our time there.

At least it's sunny out. . .

Alayna, Abby and the friends that had previously been up to the lake countless times before - Lexi, Ella, and Maddie - were adamant about hanging out on the Sandbar for a couple hours, so I began to shuttle kids over there, two and a time, while running over supplies (like my JBL bluetooth boombox, snacks, drinks, balls, sunscreen, etc.) in the stow compartment of the jet ski.

The kids hung out at the Sandbar for probably two hours (which might have had something to do with the fact that there were a group of shirtless, teenage boys playing volleyball up there), before they called asking to be picked up. When I rolled in to grab the first two, I found our kids herding along a flock of Loons. . . like normal people do.

Abby gets a photo op on the jet ski for the 'Gram.

Packing up another couple of kids for the ride back to the lakehouse.

Ella the pack horse.

Just look at all the parenting Kris is doing right now. . .

Abby takes a break on the beach.

The bedroom on the lower level where Alayna and her friends were going to be crashing for the night.

While kids settled in from their time on the Sandbar - whether they went back to sunning on the raft, or changing back into normal clothes - Cindy whipped up some mid-afternoon snacks.

Abby and Ella get down on some of Nana's taco dip.

Samson's a big fan of Bailey and Finley's squeak toys (we usually don't buy them at our house because the dogs shred theirs so damn fast.)

I'm the designated watermelon-guy, so whenever we come up to the lakehouse I bring one with me and slice it up for the folks on hand. These two requested slices instead of cubes (which is, you know, just plain weird.)

The ever-popular mirror selfie.

Cindy decorated the inside of the lakehouse with Sweet 16 decor, which was much appreciated by the Cannonball.

Samson's never quite sure what to do with himself while up at the lake.

Alayna and Lexi fill up on some taco dip as well.

Hanging out inside and not whipping kids around the lake on a jet ski (I logged, like, four hours on that damn thing throughout the afternoon.)

Back to tanning on the raft.

Dad's old high school buddy - and fellow lake resident - Carl, offered to lend us use of his pontoon boat for a cruise around the lake, knowing that our boat was temporarily out of service and we had seven teenager girls on hand to entertain (which was super nice of him.) 

The sun had beat the shit out of a lot of the kids by this point in time, so they were pretty chilled out.

Nagatha Christie.

Pretty solid bronzing weather out on the high seas today.

Hey look, there's me.

Worn out Freshmen.

It's cool, sit wherever, Maddie.

Pontoon Captain

Undertaking the mandatory buzz-by of the old, rental college we used from 2002 - 2019. Every year it seems like these change something about the backyard.

Heading out of the cove and back into the main lake.

That chick is gonna crash hard tonight. . .

The Cannonball captures a couple of her favorite, 0.5 forced perspective pics. . .

Back at the lakehouse, she took. . . whatever the hell this is.

Abby naps on the living room couch.

The rest of the girls entertained themselves with music and cards on the deck while Cindy started to get dinner around.

Kris continues working on her Momcation playlist.

Putting on The Cannonball's Sweet 16 sash.

After dinner, we managed to get a few pics on the deck of folks.

Belle of the Ball

(Cindy didn't make this.)

The Houghs

After food, cake, and ice cream, the teens retreated back downstairs into their lair and we adults hung out upstairs for a bit and enjoyed some duty-free, lounge time.

As it began to get dark out, Yours Truly made a bonfire for the kids for s'mores and whatever.

We hung out fireside for a couple hours before folks started to get tired and began to head indoors. Lots of us got eaten alive by mosquitoes, but didn't realize it until the next day - that's always fun.

Some pic of the moon Alayna took on her phone.

Opting not to leave the girls downstairs in charge of the dogs, we kept the dog bed in the room with us (where they doubled-up for the night, something they do whenever this happens.) The next morning, we let the kids sleep in a bit and Kris and I deflated and stowed the floating raft, picked up all our stuff, and slowly got our giant, gaggle of teens assembled. This was our first outing to Eight Point this year, and while it wasn't the multi-day, boat-heavy visit that we usually have, it was still pretty fun. And a cool way to celebrate the Cannonball's Sweet 16. Until next time, folks.

- Brian