Kayaking Conesus

Since the weather was to be unbearably hot, I got the kayaks ready so we could jump in the van when the girls got home and go kayaking. Well, good intentions and all... it was almost an hour before we actually got to the lake. But we had a blast!

Zoë was, as always, amazing at helping me unload and get everybody launched. She even helped some others get their canoe launched!

Miranda (front) and Nica (middle) rode in the tandem with me. It was perfect! And not even difficult for me to paddle the three of us around. I LOVE MY NEW KAYAK!!!

Megan brought a friend, Angelina, and the two of them managed to paddle the single kayak together. They both took a turn paddling by themselves, too.

Zoë, who is as tall as I am now, got her own kayak and had fun racing circles around the rest of us.

Miranda lasted about five minutes in the kayak. She then got out and swam the rest of the time.

Don't Smile! And she didn't. I guess I've used it too much. Still, I love this expression on her face. She is so beautiful.

Nica lasted a little longer in the boat, but she loved swimming and running back and forth on the dock.

Megan goofing around in the tandem with me.

We met some friends from school getting into the water the same time we did. Miranda and Molly were having more fun swimming and kayaking. Molly's mom and brother enjoyed their new canoe.

Nica on the dock, Miranda in the water at the left, Madison and Molly in the water

Conesus Lake is rather nasty for water. There is beauitful Hemlock and Canadice nearby, but they don't allow swimming. Boo. My next adventure is to try some of the rivers/creeks around here. Genesee River or Honeoye Creek (pronounced honey-oi).

I'd Rather Be...

In celebration, Travis and I got a tandem kayak! We ordered it at the last minute before the sale was over, and saved a few pennies. It was ready for pickup on Monday (Memorial Day), but we weren't ready.

Tuesday morning, I texted my friend, Veronica Morphy, and asked if she wanted to kayak. "Sure!" She even offered to help me pick up the tandem kayak from the store in Rochester.

Well, then Megan came down, feeling sick and complaining of a headache. I called my friend back and said it was "off", but we decided to drag Megan and a puke bowl with us to get the kayak anyway.

I was SUPER glad that Veronica was along! She helped me cinch down the kayak and taught me how to use the ratchet straps (not pictured). After some salty chips, Megan was giggling and feeling much better (Hmmm, salt relieves nausea... where have I heard that before!?!) so we decided to go for it and kayak down Conesus Lake.

We did the back-and-forth drop off (leaving kayaks at one end, driving trailer to end point, driving back to kayaks. Although the morning was hazy, it was calm and beautiful. By the time we got the kayaks in the water, the wind was blowing, the sky was grey and the water had 18-inch waves that were cresting! It took us almost an hour to paddle (against wind and current in the lake) only half-a-mile. We decided we probably wouldn't make it the entire eight miles of the lake that day.

Veronica Morphy giving Megan (and the camera) a face.

This makes it look so calm, but if you peer at the front of the kayak, you can see the swell she's riding. Megan and I would SLAP down and splash on these cresting waves. Thankfully the air temp was warm (in the 80s), because we got soaked and the wind was blowing like crazy!

I paddled in the back of our new tandem kayak. Like my fishing life vest?

We stopped at one point, dug out our snacks, and Megan flipped off the kayak into the (chilly!) water. We had a good laugh getting her back into the kayak, which we finally managed. By this time the clouds and wind were gone and the sun was out! Our trip to this point took us nearly 1.5 hours, but the trip back was only 25 minutes!

This was Megan just after climbing back into the kayak. Veronica held the boat stable while I helped pull her in.

I love Veronica's laugh!

We all got some sun, and had a great trip. Next time we will look for better weather, start earlier, and try the whole 8 miles!

I am excited to spend more time on the water!

Lake Drive

Last Sunday we drove to lake Canadice, one of the pristine Finger Lakes only 20 minutes from our house. I wish we could have kayaked, or I could have hiked, but it was still a beautiful drive, and we loved all the colors.

Travis was our chauffeur.

Miranda, Megan (in the back), and Zoë Looking out their windows.

Nica wasn't really sleeping, but faked sleeping when she saw me trying to take a picture.

Miranda, of course, made friends with the first person who would pause for a moment. This gentleman and his wife were walking down to the waters edge, and this kind man listened to Miranda (his wife wandered off)

Nica immediately took to rock hunting. Yes, it was sunny and pleasant out, but not what I would call shorts weather. But Nica wears shorts year round.

Nica & Megan at the water's edge, Travis behind them. Another couple was loading up their canoe in the background.

Crazy Megan

Sweet Megan

Nica with her rock. She and Megan found some amazing rocks along this lake.

Nica dancing under the Falling Leaves.

Megan, Travis and Miranda walking back to the van.

They turned around for me.

I could hang this on my wall. It feels like I am laying on my back, in the warm sunshine, and I can almost feel the warmth on my face, the cool breath of air, and smell that leaf-smell of fall.

We drove to the other side of the lake and I had Travis take the girls and walk down to the lake along a trail. I didn't go because I still didn't trust my leg to work correctly (couldn't feel uneven ground, and I have tumbled more than once because of it).

Hunting for rocks.

The girls unconsciously lined up in order while they were hunting for rocks.

The geode Megan found.

Better Swimming

So, after so many disappointing forrays to try to swimming in the Finger Lakes this August. I was delighted when we were invited to Lydia Lombardo's fifth birthday swim party at her Nana's house; an in-ground pool with a shallow end, a deep end, and a diving board! Oh, heaven.

If we had the means, I would now love to have the exact same pool put in our back yard! Although, I think Miranda would grow webbed feet because she would live in the pool. And, our electric bill would go up because I would run the heater to keep it at 84-degrees (or warmer?!) so I could swim without a wet suit. It was a beautiful pool, the kids had so much fun swimming and playing with friends. I enjoyed watching them play, swimming with them, and chatting with my friends. What a great way to celebrate a birthday!

My brave little girl has started to flee the confines of a swimming vest!
At least, if there's a shallow end.

CANNON BALL!!!

Nica and her friend, Lydia (the birthday girl)

Guess who is giving bunny ears?

Megan loved photo-bombing these shots.

Miranda was like a fish, I mean dolphin. She was difficult to catch on camera because she was swimming or jumping or splashing the entire time!

Mareva Baldwin did some awesome jumps off the diving board.

Holly (sitting on the steps) and Lorna (red tank top) were great friends to hang out in (or out of) the water. All of these ladies are fun to chat with!

Nica was ready to jump in the water- as long as she had a vest on.

Miranda waiting for the area to be clear before she jumps off the diving board.

Dean's first time jumping of the diving board. It was AWESOME!

Nica's first time off the diving board!
Ready, set...

GO, SUPERGIRL!

She definitely has that horizontal fall into water down.

First Cannonball.

Dean is learning to swim, and he did great getting under the water so I could snap this picture.

Nica under water.

Look at those eyes!

Look at that HAIR!

See? Dolphin!

I love the look of JOY on Pomai's face as she is floating with her mom.

Lydia was happy to swim around above water.

Underwater she as full of joy!

Birthday Girl

Lydia's little brother, Bryant, loved his cupcake frosting.

Goatee?!?

Madison, Lydia's big sister, watches as she opens her present.

Nica floated/kicked the whole length of the pool on these noodles.

We all love swimming!

Zoë was not pictured because she opted to go with her dad to work and help him out there- feeding the 1,000 fish! She's loved working with her dad. I love seeing her (and all my girls) learn new things.