Wrapping Up Lake George 2021

Can I just say, after an entire pandemic of distancing, reuniting with the Wells family in Lake George felt amazing.  Setting out early in the morning to go fishing just felt so, well, normal!  Familiar.  Like things were right in the world.

Here are the days adventures from July 22nd.  With fishing licenses in hand, we set out with bait and eager young fisherfolk.

Anders was the first to get a bite.  Great work, little man!

While we didn't catch any keepers from the boat, we made up for it by the sheer quantity of little fish snagged off the dock.  Eila and Annika fished all day.  They easily caught two dozen.  We kept them in a bucket for a while before releasing to make sure they didn't keep catching the same poor fish over and over again.

I love how these girls aren't squirmish at all.  They even bait and remove their own hooks!

Personally, I was kind of glad we didn't have to filet any fish for dinner.  While I love fresh trout, cleaning fish isn't really my thing.  I watched my Uncle Jay cut the head off a fish while I was a child, and the head kept flopping in its decapitated state until it rolled off the dock.  Truth to be told, I had a few nightmares after that.  (In all fairness, I was the one who told him we should eat the fish.  I think he would have preferred to let it go.)

If fishing all day was Annika's dream, driving the boat was Eli's.  Nicely done, Cheesestick!

Plus, look how nice the freshly powerwashed sailboat looks.

Do you see what I see?  Papa Kay in a narwhal!  Yup, that has all the makings of a great day.

After a week of watching others ski, Annika and Eila were ready to give it a try.

Here's Gregory in the water coaching Eila.  We are so grateful for all the time he and Alesia have spent teaching our little ones.  Greg has dreams of being a ski instructor in the near future.  Whether on snow or in the water, I know he will be great.

Splash!  Good job, Eila!

Annika's turn.

Look who's skiing!  (At least for a few seconds.)  Strong work, Cheesecake.

Meanwhile Jason and Adam got to play with power tools in the garage while tackling a few electrical issues.  Tinkering is Jason's happy place.  Electrocution, not so much, but all's well that ends well.  :)

Next up, Aunt Janet came out on the boat.

We were amused watching Talia, Brooklyn, and Jason tube...

But even more amused by Gregory's penguin dive.  Check out how hard Talia is laughing!

Here's Jason giving it a try.

Later in the day Papa Kay took the boat out for a cruise.  The evening couldn't have been lovelier.

The grand finale was watching fireworks from the Village.  It's fun to see all the boats gather out on the harbor.

Plus, Alesia and Greg even took the big kids out for a night on the town after.  As for me, well, I'm old and boring.  I'm all for an early bedtime.

July 23rd.  Our final full day at Lake George.  By this time, Eli was rocking it on waterskis.  

Look at Gregory go!

Watch out world!  Anders is behind the wheel.

Love the tongue.

Tubing fun.

Jason gives the wildest rides.

Happy smiles for generations.

More fishing fun.

And a random picture in one of Talia's comfy crocheted hats.

 

Watching the moon rise on our final evening at Lake George.

Can't beat a campfire and s'mores!

Lake George is heart-wrenchingly beautiful...and complex.  While there, I think we all feel closer to my Uncle Jay.  Lake George was the place he loved most.  But we also feel the pain of his absence more keenly.  If my heart still aches for an uncle who lived far away, it's hard to imagine how much it must hurt to miss a father, a husband, or a brother.

Our hearts are all intertwined with the old yellow house and its slightly soggy beachfront. We have so many memories there.  Unfortunately it's also a lot to manage with rising taxes and plenty of needed repairs.  Like I said, the situation is complicated.

Janet, Alesia, Greg, Katelyn, and Jeanette, we will forever be grateful for all the beautiful relationships cultivated on Lake George.  You have opened your hearts and your home to us year after year, even when it wasn't easy.  Whatever you eventually decide, please know that you have all our love and support.

And, if you ever need a plumber, I know a guy!  Like Jay, he's well-experienced at cleaning all the hair out of the drains after raising three long-haired daughters and a son...