Winding Down, South

This morning I was sitting in the cabin, relaxing, when I heard this terrible loud screaming from outside and up the way a bit. Worse yet, I recognized the voice howling "MOMMMMMY!" I went running outside to see Kaylee being carried by her 18-year-old cousin, screaming quite pitifully. She had been running in her flip flops on a stone/concrete path, and tripped, and went flying head-first. She bloodied up both her knees, one pretty bad, got the palms of her hands, her pinkies, and her chin. She was in a fair amount of pain there. Fortunately there was a first aid kit around thanks to her Aunt & Uncle Konyha, and I got her cleaned up and bandaged up in short order. It was not an auspicious start to her day, but at least it got better from there. :)

We went to the arts and crafts place with Grandma and Aunt Cindy, and Kaylee made a necklace, a bracelet, and an anklet with beads and such that she picked out. One she did with shells, one with beads, and one was a gold chain with a pendant. She was quite pleased, and she did all the work herself.

Then Kaylee got to go swimming with Micah again, and she had a great time with that. She even went down the bigger, faster water slide. Steve and I watched from the sidelines and she didn't know we were there, but her cousin got in the water with the lifeguard, just so he could catch her at the bottom and not let her go under, as he promised. He was really good with her, and it gave her that little extra courage to give it a try.

From the beach it was time to run to the cabin and hose off the sand prior to hoofing it over to the rifle range. Kaylee asked if she could shoot too, and I said I didn't know but we'd find out. She's only ever fired BB guns before, and those only twice. The lady who was in charge of the firing range said that she thought the age was 12 and above, but that she wasn't sure and she'd let Kaylee do it. In order to reach, Kaylee had to sit on her knees on a chair--and her knees were freshly wounded. She decided she wanted to do it anyway, and she did. We all had to wear ear and eye protection, which I detested and so did Kaylee (wouldn't want that loud 22 rifle to blow your eardrums!), but we loaded up and our party of 17 took turns shooting five live rounds at targets only about 15-20 yards away. My 82-year-old Grandpa beat us all. He had four out of five bullseyes, and his 5th round was in the next ring. My dad came in next also with 4 out of 5 bullseyes. Somewhere in here was my Uncle Christopher, who is a US Marshall. Steve was next, and I was barely after him. I'm annoyed that he beat me, particularly since he beat me at archery too, but I was still fairly pleased with the grouping of my shots, etc. I only had one slightly wayward shot, and it was still in the next ring from the bullseye, but it was about an inch away from the others while all his were grouped together. Kaylee loaded, held, fired, and unloaded her own rifle, put the safety off and on in between loading rounds, etc. She did a good job. No bullseyes, which made her angry, but considering this was her first time, we thought she did quite well. :)

A little bit later, ten of us went on a pontoon boat ride around the lake here. It was really a beautiful day for it. The sky was that rich blue of fall, not the burnt-out blue of summer. The day was less humid, there wasn't a cloud in the sky, and it was just really pretty. Steve lost his hat overboard to start with, but Uncle Kevin rescued it with a shade umbrella tip, and all was well. :)

After the pontoon ride, half of the family went on a hay wagon ride from the lodge over to a pole barn where they had a dance. They did line dancing to various types of music. The rest of us split up and did other things. Some did miniature golf, and Steve and Kaylee went swimming again, then went "funyaking" which is sort of like kayaking without the tipping over part, while I sat on the beach and watched them and our stuff and the other folks out on the beautiful evening. It was really quite nice.

We found it funny that the same lady who was our rifle range instructor was also the pontoon boat driver and tour-giver, and was also the same lady who drove a van of people to the barn dance. A very versatile employee. ;)

The evening ended up with Kaylee and Micah going down to a bonfire for awhile and bringing Steve and I a S'more, and the adults hanging out and talking in the cabin. It's only 11:23 p.m. here but I'm the only one over 18 still awake, and have been the only one for almost an hour here. ;) It was a good day...