Boating on Carlyle Lake

Three years ago new neighbors moved in across the street. They lived for a while in Florida and got a large boat for use in the Gulf. They park their boat in their driveway. So, pretty much ever since Lilly could talk, she would point out the boat every single time she got into our car. (No, that wasn't repetitive at all.) At any rate, our neighbors graciously offered to let us come out with them some Saturday on a large recreational lake in our area called Carlyle Lake. We've been a little nervous up until now about the thought of such little kids on a boat, but since Abby turned 2 in July we decided that maybe it would be OK. We went out this Saturday and had a great time. We even let each of the girls ride on an inner tube with Daddy behind the boat (which Lilly enjoyed much more than Abby, which you can see in the video), as well as swim in the lake. Lilly and Abby both got to drive the boat, even. (Abby especially liked putting the engine at full throttle!) After letting Abby (and Mommy) nap for about an hour in the car in the afternoon, we went back out on the lake and did some fishing. After several very long and hard weeks, it was good to get a chance to spend time together as a family and do something very out of the ordinary for us. It was also good to build the confidence that our kids wouldn't drown, even though it was a little terrifying as parents to swim with them where you can't touch the ground.