Paddle Boating

Today was such a beautiful day, it's hard to believe that just yesterday there was still a little snow in our backyard. I took the boys outside to play, and Austin asked if we could go out on the boat. We hadn't gone out in a few months so it was long overdue. To start off the excursion, I get the kids into the boat and before I can get in, it drifts away out of my reach. I'm freaking out, but of course, can't show it since my babies are in a boat with no adult. So I tell Rylan to paddle it backwards and together both boys move the pedals backwards so I can finally pull it back to shore. If that's not a red flag of what's to come then what is, right?! But NO, I hop in and paddle away. We cruise the lake, Rylan tells me he saw an eel and then is looking for the darn thing. I am now paddling faster since I don't really need to see a snake and freak myself out.

All is going along smoothly and we start to paddle home. Now there is a small island that is on our side of the lake and Rylan has been wanting to go on it since the first day we ever looked at the house. Our neighbor owns part and we own part. Our neighbor has a swinging bridge that crosses to the lake, but who needs the neighbor's bridge when you already on a small paddle boat. So I decide as we are heading back that we'll stop over to the island and check things out. So we pull up, Rylan gets out, then Austin gets out. As Austin is getting out, the boat moves away from the side and there goes Austin's leg, into the cold water. He yells, "I cold! I ok!" Since both boys are already out I hop out of the boat and we check things out quickly. Rylan climbs some trees and Austin checks out the neighbor's lawn mower that is parked over there. We get in the boat and head home. As we pull to the house, both boy safely get out of the boat and so do I. Of course, when I get out, I push off the boat just enough to push it out of reach and into the water. As it is floating further away the wind changes and it slowly starts floating back. I find a huge limb that has a hook at the end and as I catch the boat I end up pushing it further away. I finally caught the darn thing and pulled it back in, with the help of Rylan and Austin. Lesson learned: It's not wise to go out on the water when it starts out with the boys afloat alone!