Pontooning

Two winters ago, Greg mentioned buying a pontoon boat for the family.  He has had boats since long before I came into his life.  When we first started dating, he had a killer bass boat.  Jacob has always been a fairly calm (at least physically) and cautious child, and I never thought twice about taking him out on the water.  He was only 2 when he went on his first boat ride, and he's been fishing and boating ever since.  Andrew, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of Jacob.  He's active, agile and adventurous.   Jacob takes serious convincing to take even the simplest risk, but Andrew thrives on excitement.  He's a climber and a jumper.   While I didn't worry about taking Jake on the water, you can see why I would have misgivings about Andrew.  Greg kept saying, "You'll love it!  It'll be so much fun for the family."  But all I could envision was me playing referee for 8 hours straight, trying to keep Andrew from jumping ship, and then dealing with the tantrums which would inevitably ensue from thwarting his escapades.  I wasn't exactly against the pontoon boat, but I wasn't necessarily for it either.  Greg looked around a little and found a boat that was reasonably priced, but we dragged our feet and someone else scooped it up before we did.  He was disappointed, but we kind of forgot about the whole pontoon boat for a while...

...Until this spring when one of my friends on Facebook posted photos of her family's new pontoon boat.  Greg became afflicted with what my dad calls the "bee in your bonnet syndrome."  If you have a bee in your bonnet, you'll do anything and everything possible to get it out, ASAP.  He had to get the pontoon boat idea out of his head, and the only way to do that was to buy a pontoon boat.  He looked around and found one relatively quickly.  By April, Greg and my father-in-law had gone together to buy our boat.  I'll admit, I was still a little skeptical because of Andrew, but 18 months makes a huge difference in the life of a toddler/pre-schooler.  Andrew is still my Mr.Adventure, but he has calmed down quite a bit since this time last year.  I was much more willing to give it a try  this summer than I was last summer.

I'll be the first to admit that Greg was 100% right.  We love it.  The boys love it.  I love it.  Since the end of May, we have been out on the boat almost every opportunity we get.  The boys don't fuss about how long we have been out.  They don't get bored.  They swim, snack, fish and chill.  Even their fighting is less when we are on the water (not eradicated, but less for sure!)  Andrew is great on the boat.  He'll even lay down on the seat and take a nap mid-day!    We have taken the kids out often, taken some friends and family out, and we were amazingly able to sneak away by ourselves one day this week too!  And yes, we have plans actually written down on the calendar to take other people out!  Our schedules are so busy, if we don't plan it, it won't happen, and we don't want any opportunities to pass us by!  

Honestly, I think time elapses faster on the boat than anywhere else.  For our first trip out, I was wary about going at 9 in the morning and not coming home until 4 in the afternoon.  That's a long time to be on a 20 foot boat....or so I thought!  Now, 9 seems late, and 4 comes too quickly.  Anyone who has gone out with us can attest to the fact that evening sneaks up on you.  Before you know it, it's dusk when you feel like you just ate breakfast!  I'm really sad to go back to work full time in two weeks, because it's going to significantly cut down on our boating time.  I used to think that taking us out on the boat was a lot of work for Greg.  He always insisted that it was not, that he enjoyed it, and that time on the boat was anything but work.  While I always believed that he was sincere in his sentiment, I still felt bad that he had to do so much to get everything ready, cart us around, bow to our every whim, then clean everything up and put it all away.  Spending so much time on the boat the last two months has given me a different perspective.  I understand now that for him, it isn't really work when you love it so much.  We truly enjoy just being out in the open air, talking about everything and nothing at all, relaxing.  There's nothing pressing down on you on the water, nothing frustrating, no irritations.  Time spent with family and friends without the distraction of electronics, without the stresses of everyday life is irreplaceable.  I'm so glad that we have the opportunity to soak up as much sun, water and camaraderie as possible.  It's not just fun, it's a true gift, and one we feel blessed to share.  

Fishing, Greg's true calling in life.

I'm learning to drive the boat.  I figure, if I'm going to be out on it all the time, I may as well learn to operate it.  I don't think I'll ever be able to help hitch it up or tow it on the truck, but I can drive it on the lake, help with launching, docking and unfastening/fastening the covers and, as my lovely neighbor calls it, the "afimaby."  (It's really called a bimini, but she has a significant mental block with that word!)

Monster carp at the marina

"Boys, don't go too close to those people.  We don't know who they are!"

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

My dear friend Norma said that Greg and I remind her of Ozzie and Harriet:



That's what happens when your friends are old.  They can't take the heat, talk about embarrassing body functions and compare your life to 50's sit-coms!  I went to Monroeville on Friday to visit some very dear friends.  I had a great time, but I am a little worried that they are having a hard time adjusting to life in the 21st century.  Marsha told me that checking her email is hard work.  Now, digging a foundation for a house is hard work.  Checking email, in my opinion falls a little lower on the hard-work rating scale.  But then again, I am much younger.  I tried to show her just how easy it really is, but I'm not sure she's fully on board.  Just take a look:

"Now, Marsha, this is an iPhone.  You can check your email, Facebook, do online searches, check the weather or the stock market, take pictures and send text messages and call people.  It's all very easy and convenient.  You can even do it while you are in the waiting room at the doctor's office."

Her reply? "Whoa, there Harriet!  That's crazy talk!  Who ever heard of such a thing!  You're making that up!"

I think I have some work to do.  

In the mean time, I'm grateful that they're still young enough to enjoy a good, old-fashioned day of sitting around and talking. It certainly makes for an enjoyable day.  I couldn't believe that I had spent over 6 hours with them by the time I left.  Time flies when you're with the girls you love!

And, while these two may be old, they sure can throw together a good lunch.  Take a look at the table and see if you can spot what I brought.  I'll give you a hint.  It's the antithesis of healthy!

Thanks, girls - for the company, the lunch and the laughs...and for being good sports about me calling you old!  :) 

What a Day!

Did you think our weekend was busy?  We continued the trend into this week!  On Monday, I watched my niece, Ella for most of the day.  My older niece, Karissa, had spent the night after boating on Sunday and stayed with me for the day on Monday too.  She was a big help!  I think we did just about every activity in my box of magic kid tricks on Monday!  It was good day, but full of activity!  

  

First, we went to Chuck E Cheese's for a little play time and lunch.

Jake played the big ticket games, while Andrew and Ella were more about entertainment!

When we came home, we did a few science experiments.  Good old baking soda and vinegar with food coloring kept them entertained for a while.  

I didn't have enough eyedroppers, so they used medicine syringes!

Next, we filled a cookie sheet with corn starch.  They had fun just playing in the powder.  I think Jake found the solution to his stinky, sweaty feet problem!

Add water, and viola ~ 

Instant gooey mess!  

Even Karissa got into the games! 

Proof that someone (Andrew) attacked Jake with cornstarch hands!

We also did the bubble snakes, but Ella accidentally breathed in with her bottle in her mouth.  She got a mouth full of dish soap, which put an end to the science experimentation.  We spent a good deal of time rinsing her mouth out and then calming her down.  After that ordeal (which is why I don't have any pictures of the bubbles), we decided that frozen custard was in order, to help get the taste of soap out of poor Ella's mouth! 

With the day still young, we decided to head over to Legion Park for some play before heading home.  

Meanwhile, at home...

Sam finished up all the laundry...

...then took a nice little cat nap in the window.  He's such a good boy!

In the evening, the adults sat around while the kids played.  Yesterday we let the kids play in the morning at my house, went back to the park for a picnic lunch and then everyone came here for dinner to celebrate a late father's day with my dad.  After dinner, we headed up to my mom's house for some slip-n-slide action.  It's summer, and we are moving!  

A double slide!  Ready.  Set.  Go!

Andrew had a bit of trouble with the "slip" part.  He mostly inched down the slide.

Ah...This is the life! 

Picture Perfect

We've been on the go, and I've had my camera with me to chronicle almost every moment!  Last Thursday we met one of my friends at the Bellwood pool for a swimming play date: 

Andrew and Jacob sporting their goggles.  They both look like white, toddler Stevie Wonders!

Guarding the pool with the utmost authority.

Jacob, eating a ring pop and drying off.

A smiling dino

"Ah...this is the good life!"

"Cheeth!"

On Saturday Jacob went to Pittsburgh with my parents and Greg and I took Andrew to Glendale for the day.

On top of the water tower.

Glendale from the tower.

Andrew didn't realize at first that the bread was for the fish.  

"Blech!  Fish eat this stuff?" 

"Well, yes, son.  Actually, they do!"

We stopped for a moment so he could play on the playground.

Then headed to the swimming area for a while.

Timid at first, 

but that didn't last for long.

He spent about an hour digging through the sand looking for little shells.

Then he moved on to playing in the sand for a while.

The sand was yucky, so it was more like a dirt castle than a sand castle.

No matter where we go, we seem to pick up other kids.  These boys helped turn his castle into a mudslide!

When we left home Saturday morning I was rushing around.  In the rush, I didn't realize that I left the house wearing only my bathing suit top, and no shirt, until we were already well on the way to Glendale.  Instead of turning around, we just decided to eat somewhere where it was appropriate not to wear a shirt.  If you're wondering where such a place would be, well, here it is:

Actually, our food was pretty good, but they had the slowest business ever!  I guess that's part of living "up the mountain" (as we "valley folk" say) and lake life.  Easy-breezy, no rush.  That's all well and good, except when you're starving!

Ah, food at last! 

On Saturday evening we went to my brother and sister-in-law's in Gallitzin for an early Father's Day picnic.  

Greg thinks he's going to get me to ride a bike, but Dalann's garage is the closest I'll go to the actual road

Jake's hamster was seriously neglected on Saturday, so I threw him a blueberry when we got home.  I think he liked it!

Sunday was Father's Day, and anyone who knows Greg will not be surprised to hear that he wanted to spend it on the boat.  We took my niece Karissa with us, and spent the entire day at Raystown.

Karissa even got to drive for a little while!

Greg and Andrew caught us dinner!  Remember on the last post when I said we had to throw some back so they could grow bigger?  Well, I was right!  He caught some of the biggest pan fish I ever saw!  

Andrew, Karissa and me taking a dip.

Poor Sammy was left at home alone all weekend.  He jumped in the car seat thinking maybe we would take the hint and cart him along with us next time!  I'm not so sure how a cat would do on a boat...maybe...just maybe...

Greg got a Steelers grill cover, Steelers grilling set and a Steelers branding iron for signature steaks! 

And that was the weekend in review.  Don't worry, we haven't slowed down at all.  Stay tuned for details of Monday and Tuesday!  Whew!  I'm almost (almost) looking forward to going in to work on Wednesday, just for a slower pace!