July at the Lake

We arrived at my parents' condo last week and have had a wonderful time together here so far. Last weekend was the Woodson Bend golf cart parade and fireworks. We decorated two carts this year: one for the "patriotic" category and one for the "creative" category.

The kids were "The Super Woodson Bend Kids" and the cart was their superhero mobile. They (along with the golf cart) had matching capes and goggles that Mom made. Really, it was the coolest idea by far.

So you can imagine our disappointment when we didn't win. Or even place. I guess there's always next year.

Later that night we stayed up to see the fireworks. Everyone gathers on the course in their golf carts to wait for the show. The kids had a blast watching the fireworks from the roof of the golf cart.

All of the July 4th activities are fun, but the best part of our time here is definitely the lake. The kids are absolutely fearless on the water. Warner has mastered his ski trainer and can now put his skis on, balance in the water, and get up without any assistance.

And Maren got up for the first time yesterday (with me in the water with her). Pretty wild for our still two-year-old, huh?

The kids are total water hogs. But the adults have still had a few chances to play behind the boat too. Dad and I continued our tradition of double barefooting together on his birthday. It's one of the highlights of my whole year.

I can't express the joy it brings me to share boating with Kevin, our kids, and my parents. I often wrestle with feeling cheated in life after losing Meredith and everything that goes with having a sister. I'm lonely without her, and have come to realize that will probably never change. I hate that part of our family is missing with her gone, along with the "should have been's", like spending time here with her and her family.

But being here is somehow healing. And even though our family isn't complete without Mere, we have a place at Woodson Bend to remember the years with her here, and make new memories here in the time and space after her passing. Some of my fondest childhood memories were made on this lake and it makes my heart happy to watch my kids enjoy it like I did (and still do!). So here's to summer, and to the lake, and to many more happy memories made here.