Boating

We bought a boat this year and were so excited to get it out on the lake. It was such a fun family purchase and we couldn't wait to get the kids out and have fun in the water. We had been talking for a few years about saving for a boat and had kind of started looking last summer and then when everything got so stressful and hard last year we kind of stopped talking about it. We hadn't really discussed it again until the end of June when we were talking about camping and how different it was going to be for us now. With having to make sure there is water on the crops during the summer Michael can't get away unless he chooses not to water, which he did do for us over the weekends we were at noisy, (such a blessing) but, for any extended period of time this just isn't an option. When we were talking about this, the idea of having a boat became more and more appealing. We live close to the water and it is a fun way to just get out and enjoy being together as a family, and it's a great way to get Michael away from the farm for a few hours so he doesn't just sit at home thinking about all that he needs to get done. It is something we can do to enjoy our summer so that we can have fun memories even with him being so tied to the farm.

When we started looking we had discussed a couple of things that were important to us in a boat, the main one was seating. We wanted a boat that could hold a lot of people so that it could be something we do not only do with our family, but with other families as well. We also hoped for a wakeboard tower and a V-drive engine. When we looked at boats with what we wanted they were all way above what we wanted to spend. For me the U shaped seating was so important but we just couldn't find it in any older model boats. That night before bed we both talked about it, and decided that we should pray, we figured if we were meant to purchase a boat then one would show up with what we wanted that was in our price range, and if it wasn't the right purchase for us then we wouldn't be able to find one. The next morning I got up and looked on Kijiji and the perfect boat for us was posted first thing in the morning, it was what we had wanted, and a lot more, and in our price range. I am constantly amazed at how God loves us enough to be involved in the silly little things of our lives. I remember thinking it was stupid to pray about something so superficial, but at the same time we wanted to be wise with what we were given and we didn't want to be frivolous. It was just a confirmation for us that God cares about all aspects in our lives, and it gave us total peace when purchasing the boat (we weren't able to test drive it, we bought it and didn't get it tested for almost a month, but I had total peace rather then being stressed about whether it was actually as good as the guy said). The boat was great, we took it to a mechanic before getting it wet and everything was working well.

We had a lot of fun this year with it and I can't wait until next summer when we will hopefully get even more use out of it!

First trip out, everyone is very excited!!

my handsome hubby captaining the ship :)

Emmersen telling us that Bella wants to stop (we told them to pat their head's if they want to be done, so Emme wanted to make it clear that it wasn't her but Bella that wanted to be done, lol).

the boat is the perfect place for Mason, he always manages to sneak in a nice little power nap half way through the day and then is ready to party again when he wakes up.

the girls and I out for a cruise

Mason didn't like sharing his seat so he kicked us out, but we did almost sink them when we took off one time because it was so light, they all did a great job of hanging on when I thought for sure I was jumping in for Mason, lol. We got it figured out though and it didn't happen again :)

apparently Lyla likes to nap on the boat too.

Cheyanne got up her first time water skiing (with training skis), she was pretty nervous but she did it no problem.

just about time to let go.

Emme got up her first try too...those training skis are awesome!

very focused!

Having fun! Emme did have one wipe out the second time she tried. Michael was driving the boat and asked Daniel how much pull was on the rope and said he wanted to try holding it. Michael was curious if he could pull the rope towards himself and pulled Emme right over her skis. Luckily, after a few sad tears, she decided she still thought skiing was fun and that seeing how it was daddy's fault she fell, she would try again.

tubing with Uncle Daniel