Cabin Trip, July 2011

The Hopes and Dreams of Mrs. Hale

My beautiful wife grew up going to her parent’s cabin on the lake, and she was an enthusiastic swimmer. So in the past when we took the kids to the cabin on the lake and they timidly went out on the dock, dipped their toes in the water and spent the rest of their time playing Barbies in the cabin, Nikole was disappointed. More accurately, she was frustrated (I chose the word “frustrated” because the term “angry” is not as becoming a peace-loving Minnesotan.)

The Big Turnaround

Children jumping into the water weirdly. Note my inverted Claire just visible under Edward.

This year something changed in our children. The barrier of fear that used to separate them from the water was replaced with an affinity for loudly throwing themselves off the dock – even having contests to see who could throw themselves off the dock in the most unusual way. Even scaredy-cat Ruthie was jumping off the dock.

Ruthie jumping off the dock. What is this posture of reckless abandon in my fearful five-year-old?

Bethany Jane spent a lot of time swimming in her life vest

Bethany was not into jumping off the dock. But she was very comfortable walking right down the steps into the water and floating around in her life vest. She would “swim” around while others were jumping off the dock, and she never missed a trip when a group was swimming out the diving raft. She got so comfortable in the water that one day while we were sitting on the dock dangling our feet in the water she walked right down the steps into the lake – literally into the lake because she had forgotten to put on her life vest. Nikole watched her do it and saw her under the clear lake water, eyes wide open, kicking her legs but not propelling. Mrs. Kasper from next door happened to be there and cut Bethany’s submarine voyage short by plucking her out of the lake. Bethany was not even coughing and for the most part unfazed. She got her life vest on and went back into the lake, but more like on the lake this time.

Lydia liked the water too. It was cold, but she wanted to be in there, like her mom.

Bethany and Lydia floating happily in the chilly lake.

Grandma introduced Lydia to the chilly lake when the rest of us were afraid to try.

Almost Better Than Children Who Swim

Nikole loves to waterski and is glad for neighbors with big boats.

My wife is hard to satisfy. She finally had the joy of watching her children frolic in the lake, but there was still an emptiness in her heart. Like the woman who receives a diamond ring with joy, then decides she might like a bigger diamond, my wife was not truly satisfied with swimming children. You see, in addition to being a lake swimmer, my wife is a water skier. Her children, however, think being terrified at the end of a rope going 30 miles per hour over a lake is silly. None of them was willing to try Mom’s second favorite lake sport.

Nikole spent some time helping the girls from the neighboring cabin try water skiing. After watching their strivings, our little Helen decided she might give waterskiing a try. She got up on the first try, and my wife’s life was complete. She has the perfect husband, children who swim in the lake and a daughter who water skis. What more can she hope for from life?

Helen gets up on water skis

And Some of Us Want Our Kids to Be Different From Us

Edward Luke working the boat lift after fishing with grandpa.

I was encouraged when my son went fishing with his grandfather, twice. (I am not very interested in fishing, or touching fish, or baiting hooks, or extracting hooks. I might enjoy watching the bobber and pulling in the fish. But I would need someone else to do all the dirty work for me.) And I was very encouraged when Edward helped clean the fish. Maybe Grandpa can turn his grandson into an outdoorsman. (Just watching grandpa and grandson cleaning fish makes me want to wash my hands for five minutes.)

Edward Luke working the filet knife with Grandpa.

Resourceful Minnesotans

Roger was receiving pressure from his adult children to buy a diving raft. He was reluctant. Then after a conversation with a neighbor whose children are older, he came home with a big, beautiful loaner diving raft. After he and Marilyn floated it into position and anchored it with loaner anchors, it became the hottest spot on the lake (at least with our kids it was a popular spot).

Grandma and Grandpa moving the diving raft into position, while foreman, Nikole, makes suggestions (and stays dry).

A tiny milestone

Our baby turned one year old while we were at the cabin.

Nikole was able to scrape together a birthday cake even out in the wilderness.

Other Random Photos from the Lake

Grandpa prevents Lydia from crawling into the lake.

Nikole and I were able to get out on four bike rides while at the cabin. Thank you, Grandma, for babysitting.

I just like this shot of Nikole because it is evidence of our practice of jumping into the lake right after our bike rides. Nice jersey, Nikole.

My son is comfortable with himself.

What could be better than a night eating at Zorba's? Lots of leftovers.

On our last night we had a campfire. Nikole tells me campfires are required for a complete cabin experience.

Thank you, Grandpa, for letting us come to your cabin! (Thank you too, Grandma!)