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).

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.

Grimes Glen again- this time with the Morphy's

Any time I would mention a hike, Megan would ask if we could go back to the waterfall hike. Then, while talking with Veronica Morphy, we set up a hike for her day off where we would take our kids to Naples and hike Grimes Glen again.

We had, of course, and awesome time! They also brought their three dogs, which was fun for my girls to see them hike, too. We all made it to the second falls, but when Veronica M. saw the steep path, she decided to stay behind with the dogs; those little babies were already shivering and she didn't think they'd make it down the trail again.

Miranda was up the trail before I could say "Let's go"! Nica took a little more persuading, but she also made it up with no problem. So awesome!!!

We hiked to the third waterfall, where, of course Miranda swam and swam. She also climbed up the side of this waterfall, but she sat at the top and cried because she was too scared to come down. Garrett climbed up and helped her come down. He was awesome! Of course, the second time she climbed up (she wanted to walk over and touch the waterfall), I was not pleased that she had to be rescued again.

We had an awesome hike, but my thighs were jelly by the time I hiked down the steep part twice. On the way down at the steep part, Miranda was sitting at the top of the falls crying. I told her I would help her get down and then come back for Nica. She continued to cry, and I asked her what was wrong. "I'm afraid I'm going to die!" she wailed. We said a prayer: that she would trust God and her mom and to know that she would get down safely. She was still scared, but calm and made it down NO PROBLEM! Veronica M. was a sweetheart and helped Miranda down the last (sippery!) rope climb to the bottom. Nica also needed help, and Veronica was again there to help her those last few sliding steps.

Baileys to the left, Morphys to the right. At the trail head of Grimes Glen.

First waterfall. Nica wanted to climb up it partway.

Zoë waiting for the other kids to come back. They had taken off (too far!) ahead of us. Zoë had hiked to the top of the fall while waiting for Veronica M, Nica and me to catch up.

Morphy's: Veronica, Mya, & Garrett with their dogs: Doddy, Cleo, Pepper.

Nica walked away from me and back towards Veronica just so she could hold her hand.

Swimming hole at the second waterfall.

The girls walked over to get a "shower" in the waterfall.

Did it!

Ice bucket challenge? Who needs that when you have a natural one here!?

Doddy was NOT happy with being tied up. She howled to be let loose so she could play in the water, too.

Splashing

And of course, Miranda was swimming.

Megan was more interested in comforting the shivering dogs (this is Cleo?)

They found a log at the base of the waterfall and were bringing it over.

Can you see them? Miranda followed her older sisters and Garrett up this super steep trail and walked along the thin ledge even before I could say "Let's go!"

Miranda (pink) and Mya (blue with red backpack) on the thin ledge.

Nica getting ready to climb up the steep hill.

Garret, Miranda, Mya, Megan, and Zoë at the top of the second waterfall.

Closeup of Garret, Miranda, Mya, Megan, and Zoë at the top of the second waterfall.

 The hike to the third waterfall was easy and fun. But more fun was the water (cold!) at the third waterfall!

Nica wanted to get in, but was hesitant at first. She loved getting into the water!

Megan touching the third waterfall. Mya almost there, and Garrett climbing the ropes to get there.

Miranda headed to touch the waterfall (even though she couldn't climb down the first time, she went up again and then cried because she couldn't get down the second time either! Grrr. We'll have to work on that- either understanding limits, or understanding if you get up, you have to get yourself down!)

While helping Miranda, Zoë found another trail on the left side of the third waterfall and hiked up that one, too!

I did it!!!

Garrett hiked up after Zoë. Mya followed them, too.

Nica taking a selfie.

Megan found her "shoe" rock again!

Climbing down from the third waterfall.

Miranda's walking stick (that I made her drop because she whacked Megan with it- accidentally).

Remember the frog and the face from the first time we made this hike?
Nica found this elephant face in the same spot!

This leaf was suspended, just hanging in the air. Spiderweb strands held it between the two trees.

This one I could frame. *sigh*

Megan found the perfect scooped-out sitting rock.

She also found a weird frog.

Why weird? Because it was missing its front limb!

Veronica helping Nica down the last steep slippery part of the hike (back to the second waterfall swimming hole).

Who knew my girls would be such awesome (short distance?) hikers?! We will definitely be doing more of this!!!