On the Water

Since arriving home from Virginia last week, I've asked the kids to write in their journals about some of their favorite parts of the family reunion. They both wrote first about the pirate's treasure hunt (kudos to Aunt Shalee . . . they LOVED that!), and then about kneeboarding. Kneeboarding, it would seem, was a highlight of the boating experience. Hmmm, I wonder if they would still choose those two things a week later. I'll have to ask them.

I think kneeboarding was such a hit because it was more challenging than tubing but less work than waterskiing. Also, you could do it all by yourself and get a long ride. Aunt Annie was also a great instructor. She showed the kids how to scoot their knees up under themselves and then sit up (see the above pictures).

I don't know why I don't have any pictures of Phoenix kneeboarding, but I think it's because I could only manage one form of media at a time. Here's the video:



Despite her love of kneeboarding, Lutece was willing to try out waterskiing again. She got right up and had a longer ride than her first try.

I'm not sure if that's a look of determination or aggravation. I'm guessing the former. I'm hoping the former.

Of course, Stayc and I had our fun too. Seriously, though, it's all about the kids, right?

Off the Dock and into the Water

If the kids weren't out in the boat, tubing, skiing, or kayaking, they were generally still in the water, playing games (Marco Polo, Sharks and Minnows), swimming, or jumping off the dock.

About a day or two after we got home from the lake, Lutece started complaining about an earache. I put her off for a couple of days, as I've always done with ear complaints, thinking it would go away on its own. I finally read about swimmer's ear online. The treatment? Go to the doctor. Darn it! It was an in-and-out kind of visit. Yes, it's swimmer's ear. Yes, it came from bacteria in the lake. Yes, it's been rampant this summer. Yes, antibiotics are the only way to treat it. No, don't get your ear wet for the next week. Lutece's response? "But I hardly ever put my head underwater the whole week." Oh, ha.

Still, despite her daring antics behind the boat, this is Lutece's version of "jumping in" . . . more like stepping in.

Phoenix has different ideas.

Phoenix's interpretation of "jumping in" hits a bit closer to the mark.

Tubing Free-for-All

There doesn't seem to be a lot of skill involved in tubing. Just get on and hold on. However, not having actually tubed on this trip, I cannot say that with complete certainty. Still and all, it does require some bravery, especially if you're a kid . . . especially if you want to go REALLY fast . . .

and especially if you ask for the "Circle of Death." (Sign made by forming your hands in a circle, then crossing your forearms in a crossbones signal. Circle. Of. DEATH! . . . the kids made that up.) Ryan and Phoenix were masters of the Circle of Death, as evinced by this video. I believe Phoenix is the one getting spit into the water:



Another good thing about tubing is that you can share turns with your cousins, thus doubling your water time.

Luckily, the cousins were eager to share turns (without any goading from parents . . . really!)

The bad part? Waiting around on the boat for your turn. Sigh. What a tough life.

Reunion Sampler

I have more pictures of skiing, tubing, and kneeboarding than you can shake a stick at (though why you'd want to shake a stick at pictures is beyond me). Those pictures are fun (and you'll be seeing more of them), but it's also nice to get glimpses into the other parts of a family reunion.

While the kids were mainly to be found in the water, there was definitely lots of dock play. The lake was full of little clam-like shells that the kids gathered, collected, set-out on the dock, and attempted to sell. They were about as easy to clean up as they were to collect . . . that is, it took some time :).

There was a ton of food to be had up at the house, but there was a lot down at the dock too. We generally ate lunch down at the dock as well as snacks throughout the day. Phoenix and Ryan found the grapes here.

To the kids, sleeping on an air mattress is the pinnacle of vacation sleeping. Oh, the JOY! Luckily, Shawn and Annie kept everyone rolling in the air mattresses.

And it wouldn't be a family reunion without having Gayle sing you some bedtime songs. The kids have been listening to Gayle's songs for so many years that they can make special requests and sing along on the sing-along parts. They are completely enraptured.

Sadly, it's not a huge sampler. There was lots of delicious food (made more so by the fact that I didn't have to prepare all of it!), great conversation, lots of down time at the dock, fun games at night for the grownups (despite the fact that some of them elicited mini-tantrums from me . . . yes, I know, the Hendricks side of my family is not in the least surprised, having grown up with my gaming tendencies :)

Isn't it great just to hang out with family?

Kayaking

I have a new favorite sport. True story. The lake house we (ahem, Grandma & Grandpa) rented for the week included two kayaks that got a lot of use during the week. With 10 kids and 10 adults using them, they were rarely at the dock. I have videos and pictures (not all taken by me) of every combination imaginable: Lu & Phx, Lu & Nick, Phx & Ryan, Phx & Kara, Kara & Shalee, Shalee & Jared, Jared & Stephen . . . well, you get the idea. Needless to say, we enjoyed kayaking.

There were some islands out in the middle of the lake, aptly named "DuBravac Island," (they were ALL DuBravac island, Nick informed us) that saw quite a bit of us. The first time I rowed out there with Lutece I thought my arms might just give out on the way back. The second time I went with Ben and it was much easier. Whew.

By our second day at the lake, in an attempt to earn money, Lutece and Nick set up a kayaking shop. Twenty cents for a kayaking lesson. I believe they got one taker. They quickly added kayak rides for ten cents. Soon, they were rolling in the dough. (I offered to pay the ten cents for various smaller cousins and both Lu and Nick got one dollar at the end of the week. Fair is fair.)

The kids also figured out that there was an even easier way to kayak than rowing yourself . . .

. . . let your Dad tow you. That way you can focus all your attention on pouring lake water on each other.

Yup. Those kayaks got a lot of use.

First Time Skiers

Hanging out with family is great. Playing all day with cousins is wonderful. But doing those things at a lovely house at the lake for five whole days is about as good as it gets.

Not only did we spend a lazy week at Lake Anna with family, but thanks to Shawn and Annie, we had a boat, skies, tubes, kneeboards, and expert skiing instructors and boat drivers. How's that for the makings of a fun week!?

Our very first day out on the lake, the kids tried their hand at waterskiing. Sadly, I wasn't on the boat to see it happen, but both of them got out of the water (videos below) . . . Lutece a little more than Phoenix (but hey, he's my little boy . . . I'll give him credit if I want to :). Thanks to Grandma DuBravac for the photos!

Look! That counts as getting up, right?! I was looking through the videos of the experience and there were six videos of Phoenix. He tried SIX times! That's pretty persistent for a 5-year-old.

I think Lutece got up on the second or third try. She was adamant about trying everything . . . especially if the BOYS could do it. She is a firm believer that girls can do *nearly* anything boys can do. I wonder where she gets that from? So determined.

Here's Phoenix on his most successful "ski" (actually, there were about 3 that looked a lot like this one . . . I just had to choose one):



These next two clips are Lutece. I love listening to everyone's commentary on the boat and in the water.



Notice in this second video that she gives the "cut" signal pretty early on. She got up just fine, but it seems she'd had enough by then.



I have to admit, it is quite thrilling to see your children accomplish things through will, determination, and a bit of raw talent (just a bit). Thrilling!

Museum Hopping

We just got back from a fun week's vacation in Virginia with the DuBravac side of the family. The reunion didn't officially begin until Monday, but we got a head start in DC with the VA DuBravacs, who graciously hosted us from Friday to Sunday. On Saturday, we all headed downtown for our annual trek to the nation's capitol and museum mecca.

I wanted to give the kids a taste of something new and try a different museum, but the kids insisted on the "bug museum" and talked their cousins into it too. The Museum of Natural History it was (for the third year in a row).

They got to look at bugs . . .

. . . up close . . .

. . . and bones . . .

. . . and learn interesting facts about animals.

In the end, we compromised. After looking at the natural world and eating lunch, we headed over to the Air and Space Museum to get a taste of the unnatural world.

It turned out to be the perfect day downtown.

Made better, of course, by the company of cousins. What could be better? Well . . . you'll see.

The Diving Board or . . . A Study in Personalities

Between swim lessons and our pool pass, we've spent so much time at the pool this summer, it would be crazy not to do a post on it. I mentioned in a previous post that Phoenix has become a diving maniac. It's his new favorite thing to do at the pool.

What I didn't mention is that Lutece is the one who really got things started. A few weeks ago, she decided that she wanted to go off the diving board, and by golly!, she was going to do it. Thing is, she is scared out of her mind to go off the diving board. That first fateful day, she waited in line for her turn, walked to the end of the diving board, looked down, stood at the edge willing her legs to jump, then walked right back and got off. She did that FIVE or SIX times! We kept telling her to wait for another day, it's not a big deal, don't worry about it . . . She refused to be dissuaded. She WOULD go off!

(By this time, Phoenix had gone off about 10 times.)

I told her to say a special prayer in her heart for help. It still took her a few more times, but finally she DID IT! Then she did it again and again. "Wasn't that fun once you got used to it?" "NO! I was scared every time!"

Yet she continues to try her hand at it every time we go to the pool. It's as if she needs to prove to herself that she can. Good for her, I say. Good for her for sticking with it and working hard to overcome fears.

I love this series of pictures. It captures, not necessarily their whole personalities, but definitely their approach to the pool and water in general.

Lu is all caution, barely stepping off the board.

Phoenix is wild abandon.

Two very different children.