There is nothing more picturesque than spending the day at a lake. In my hometown we happen to have a lake right in the middle of the city. The lake is less than a mile from the bustle of downtown and it provides a place of reprieve for all. The city has done a great job making this spot inviting. There is a biking/walking trail that goes around the lake which also extends through the whole city. There are sailboats, canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, and bicycles available for rent as well as food for sale. There are docks for fishing, beaches for swimming, and plenty of shade trees for picnicking.
On one glorious and somewhat cooler Saturday afternoon, my sisters decided that they wanted to go canoeing and kayaking at the lake. So they called up our dad and one of our brothers who owned a canoe and a kayak respectively to see if they wanted to spend the afternoon at the lake. They agreed and we all (my siblings and parents) met at the lake for a day of picnicking and boating. The kids and I arrived first so we went for a walk around the lake while we waited for everyone else to arrive. Once everyone had assembled, we enjoyed a picnic lunch by the lake. As soon as the boats came out, my son was extremely excited to go out in one and when two of my sisters were out on the lake in the canoe he wanted to follow them in (I did not let him of course). While my sisters canoed, everyone else talked or played frisbee; keeping a keen eye on those out in the boats. As soon as my sisters returned, my son jumped up wanting to take a turn. My son and I went with “Nana” to the canoe and once we were all secured in a lifevest, we pushed off into the water. It had been years since I had been in a boat and it took me a few minutes to get my bearings, but my mom and I fell into a good paddling rhythm. We paddled all they across the lake and back. The whole way my son kept asking if he could paddle. I denied his request; we did not need to lose a paddle in the deep waters! Once we were back on dry land, even though my son wanted to go out again, we let other families members have a turn. We all took turns going out in the canoe and the kayak. Everyone also helped care for the baby girls who were enjoying the picnic blanket and each other. It was a really great afternoon at the lake!