Eight Point Lake, Pt. VII

 (contd.)

A not-at-all scenic shot of the lake in the morning hours.  Looks kinda Victorian London, honestly.

Ava and Alayna, killing time in the morning doing make-up in the sun room.

Later on in the morning, the sun came back and managed to burn off all the fog and clouds.  Abby had expressed interest in trying her hand at wakeboarding, so Bryan and Brian took her out to the Sandbar to help her learn how to stand up in the water with it.

Bryan was a really good coach throughout this whole process.  He started by yanking her up on the board with the rope himself until she learned how to thrust her body upright as she came out of the water.

Now Brian pulled her with a long length of rope to simulate what it would be like being pulled behind the boat.  They did this a dozen or so times until she had it down.

We were very grateful they took the time to walk her through this - there would have been no way I could have helped her figure this out (wakeboarding being considerably out of my skill wheelhouse.)

Putting the boat into the equation.  While in the depths right off the edge of the Sandbar, Brian would gun the boat and yank Abby out of the water while Bryan helped her up.

It took quite a few times before she managed to get it.

I've uploaded all the short video takes (Kris was on video while I handled the SLR) of her attempts, so I apologize if they're excessive in quantity - I'm lazy and didn't feel like screening every, single one.

Almost there. . .

Aaaaaaand. . . .

She finally got it.

She was pretty hesitant to stand all the way up at first, but she eventually got herself there.

On the struggle bus.

We probably spent an hour or so doing this, but she got the hang of it fast - everyone was impressed.

Eating it once again.  She hit the water hard quite a few times, but you couldn't keep this kid down.

After mastering the wakeboard, Abby decided to take a break and we all headed back over to the Sandbar to hang out for a bit and take it easy.

They attempted to play volleyball for awhile, but that didn't last too long.

The older girls weren't really feeling the water anymore.  We had to get back to Midland in the evening in order to get the girls ready for an upcoming Mission Trip with Kris' church (to scenic f***ing Cincinnati, Ohio.)  Meanwhile, Yours Truly was scheduled to resume Cabin Counselor duties at this year's Junior High Camp at the old Sanford Campground - something I haven't done in like three years.

The bored teenager ventures out to further bug her parents.

The always-popular Sandbar. . .

Ava and the Cannonball

Brian and Kris, not really playing volleyball.

Bradley and Bryan

Chelsey and Jill

After an hour or so at the Sandbar, the day was starting to get away from us, and - despite not wanting to leave the gorgeous lake and our family in the slightest - we had to head back and hit the road.  Definitely sucked having to leave the good times for boring-ass responsibilities like packing, house-cleaning, etc.

Leaving the Sandbar

We decided to squeeze one, last tubing venture in on our way back to the lakehouse - just long enough to beat the shit out of these three a few more times.

Down they go again.

And so concludes another weekend up at Eight Point Lake.  Not our last foray out there this summer - not by a long shot - but the last for a few weeks, to be sure.  We've got a few, big other events coming down the pipeline that we'll have to tackle first - our annual camping trip up to Jellystone with our infamous Midland Friend Group, Brocation 2022, etc.  Stay classy, America - we'll see ya next time.

- Brian

A Fashionably-Late Observed Birthday

So it's been a week or so since we've been back now, and we haven't been up to Clare yet to visit with Dad and Cindy yet.  Not for lack of wanting to, mind you - that's my hometown, I've been looking forward to going back - but rather the worldly barriers preventing us from doing so.

Remember how Dad had been bent over the wheel of the truck in pain on the last leg of our trip north?  How we had been forced to stop in Bumblef***, Ohio so that he could writhe in agony in a Comfort Inn room for the night?  Initially he had thought that he had some kind of plumbing issue, and that some high-powered antibiotics would right him out.  Alas, after backing the Penske truck into the driveway of our new rental and having Cindy drive him back to Clare, his conditioned worsened severely, and ultimately he ended up having to go the emergency room at 4am.

With kidney stones.

Kidney stones the size of ping pong balls, one in each kidney.

Ta-Da.

He was in the Midland hospital for a few days, so we were able to check in on him there, but now that he was recovering at home (all is well as of right now) it was high time to swing up to Clare for a sunny, pool-soaked visit. . . and also a belated Cannonball birthday celebration to boot.

Let's do this. . .

Watson makes a new friend.  Unlike Tucker (Chris' dog), who was deathly afraid of our loud, obnoxious dog, Dad's dog Bailey didn't seem to mind being dominated by a 17-pound dachshund mutt.

They kept this up throughout the duration of the day, taking periodic naps before resuming.

Great day for hanging out in someone else's pool.

I'm so glad my yard isn't this big. . .

The girls are introduced to pinball

(They're not very good.)

More dog shenanigans.  After awhile you end up tuning it out.

"You go first."

McNeilly pond(s)

Not swimming.

Taking a break

No, our kids can't swim.  Yes, we should really get on that.

No idea why she looks so pissed, here.

I know I've said it before, but the beer up here has excellent taste in sports franchises.

Lobsterclaw - my koozie of choice at Dad and Cindy's

Thug life.

My kids sure know how to trash a pool.

Believe it or not, this thing used to be orange.

Hanging out with Nana

Cindy fends off a wild beast

After a couple hours, the Whites came over, and Kris and the girls got to meet Jax, Brian and Jill's newest kid (I met him back in February, if you'll be so good to remember. . .)

After a couple hours of screwing around in the pool, our kids' hair turned green.  The chlorine levels weren't even that bad, either - our girls are ridiculously fair-complected.

Worn out

More pinball

For dinner, Dad and Cindy treated us to the greatest pizza on the face of the Earth - Buccelli's (if you disagree with me, may you spend an eternity burning in the fiery pits of Hades.)

Cannonball's 7th.  Again.

Any excuse to let Blake play with fire, really (. . .and Alayna's making a mentally-challenged dog face.)

It took her awhile to think about what to wish for. . . no surprises there.

Leave no frosting un-devoured.

The one kid at the table whose table manners suck more than my kids'.

- Brian