This weekend really felt like the end of a season. Yes, I know, Labor Day is the official end of the summer. But it felt like more than that.
You see, it’s the end of yet another season with P&K. They change so quickly, yet I often miss the “lasts.” Maybe it’s because I refuse to believe in the “lasts.” As a mama who knows these are going to be her only babies, I don’t want to think that this may be the last time that K crawls up into my lap, saying, “Hold me.” Surely, this won’t be the last time that P tilts down her head, sticks her lip out and looks down her nose at me.
But with the official end of summer, came the end of lake season too. September is going to be a busy time for the Masterson clan, so we won’t be making it up to the lake again. Not until next year. But next year, P&K will be another year older, another few inches taller, a little bit more independent. Next year won’t look like this year.
So this weekend was a “last,” and I knew it. It was the last weekend at the lake as 2 year olds. The last time they’ll wear their infant life jackets; next year they will need toddler vests. Perhaps the last time they will sleep in their pack-n-plays; will they be too big for them next year? Or will they want to sleep in the big bed? The last time we have to wear swim diapers (hopefully).
I think God knew that my soul would feel all of the lasts. He knew. So he threw in a handful of firsts too. And he gave me an abundance of the little moments I live for. He wanted me to enjoy the present.
“Children have neither a past nor a future. Thus they enjoy the present, which seldom happens to us.” – Jean de La Bruyere
An abundance of the little things
Lake life is my favorite! (You can read more about that here!) Partly because we have so many moments. I love the early mornings drinking coffee and watching P&K play. I love the joy they get from playing in the stones in the driveway. I love how the lake is glass in the mornings when we are the only boat out. I love watching P&K sleeping in their pack-n-plays after a sun filled day. I love the trips to “Wal-Mart” and morning donut runs. I love the ice cream dates after dinner. I love the time Thomas and I have after P&K are asleep to just relax and have an uninterrupted drink by the fire. I love it all.
And this weekend was filled with all of these moments, in addition to so many firsts.
Our first time fishing
Maybe it was because the weather was cooler, so we were forced from our normal routine of spending all day in the water. Or maybe they really didn’t show an interest in fishing before now. I’m not really sure. What I am sure of though, is that they LOVED it!
Kayden, especially.
This kid is a natural Bill Dance. This little boy, Mama’s little boy, had the patience of a saint as we sat on the pontoon boat, Daddy’s giant fishing pole in hand, slowly cranking in the reel, hoping for a bite. He was focused, intentional, determined. He’s a natural born fisherman. (I think he must get this gene from his Papa!)
Peyton, on the other hand, not so much. Sure, she loved it! But what she really wanted to do was find the pink worm and run the fishing line through her toes. (I don’t know… don’t ask. She loved it though!) She spent more time hugging on Mack, rummaging for snacks, and opening and closing Daddy’s tackle box than she did with a line in the water.
Fishing for the first time went so well even, that Daddy went out and bought each of them their own fishing pole while they took their afternoon nap. (Well, I just realized that was probably a “last” too! Afternoon naps at the lake…) Kayden strutted around the deck with his new fishing pole like a banty rooster!
He spent the next hour letting Daddy bait his hook and cast his line so he could sit and reel it in. It took quite a while, but the kid was persistent. After a couple failed attempts on one end of the deck, Dad wanted to move spots. “No. Just a wittle wonger Daddy.” The kid has more patience than Daddy apparently!
Then, FINALLY! He not only caught one, but he started reeling in fish after fish! #BlueGillSlayer
First Roasted Marshmallow
Cooler weather also meant we could start a campfire much earlier! Most of the time if we would have a fire, it wouldn’t be until after P&K had already gone to bed. (Because, 7:30 bedtime, you know…)
When we asked P&K if they wanted to have a campfire, they of course said yes! They morphed into little helper bees, gathering up pieces of bark and kindling and throwing them into the fire pit. (And, exactly how did they learn how to start a campfire? Their knowledge amazes me!)
Once we got the fire going, Dad was on marshmallow roasting duty. Peyton helped him hold the roasting stick, and then devoured that roasted marshmallow like it was her job! Kayden nibbled, but he was more interested in the chocolate bar I’d gotten out for the s’mores (No surprise there, really).
lessons on boat throttles
Thomas has let P&K drive the boat since they were babies. They love to sit at the captain’s helm, navigating the boat around the lake. This weekend, Thomas decided to introduce them to the boat throttle.
They had apparently been watching Daddy all along. Because as soon as Thomas asked them if they wanted to push the throttle, they got out their little fists and tapped the throttle forward, just like their Dad. Looks of “how in the heck did they know how to do that?” were exchanged between Thomas and I. (Cue amazement again…)
So we spent the rest of our boat rides with my hair whipping back and forth! They’re still working on perfecting their smoothness with the throttle!
They also now love to go fast, courtesy of being able to control the speed themselves. Before it was always, “Me no wike going fast!” Now, we’re Dale Earnhardt out on the lake!
They’ll be driving the boat solo better than Mama here soon! Especially since I don’t drive the boat… Just ask Kayden, “Daddy drives boat. Mama drives mama’s car.” Yes, honey.
And a first we could have done without…
I escaped to the grocery store solo… which felt like a vacation, by the way! But I returned back to the lake house to find P&K in the tub. I had mentioned to Thomas earlier that P was kinda smelly and they probably needed a bath tonight.
“Wow, he’s the best,” I thought! “I didn’t even have to ask him to get their baths started!”
Well, it turns out, when one of your kids gets sprayed in the face by her brother with Round-up, it’s probably time for a bath!
“Bubby spray my face! My scared.”
“My spray Peyton’s face. My sorry.”
Yes, she’s fine. Thomas was a little flustered though. After all, P almost lost an eye! (Okay, not really…but kinda!)
Bittersweet. All of the little moments and all of the firsts combined with all of the lasts; the official end of summer; the end of a season.
We had the perfect weekend as a family. (Well, minus the Round-up in the face…but she didn’t die… or lose an eye…) I entered this weekend with hesitance and a heaviness to my soul. It had been a long couple of weeks, summer was winding down, this was our last lake adventure for the year.
God shined a light on my soul and my heart though. He gave me the firsts I needed. He gave me an abundance of the little moments that I love and cherish.
I’m walking on the other side of this season with my head high, enjoying the sunshine on my face, and looking forward to this next season.
With love, Amanda
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