Where did the summer go? We spend all winter and spring waiting for summer to arrive, and then like a blink of an eye, it goes away. I think the weather was playing tricks on us these past few days here in New England, as it felt more like early fall than summer, with nights in the 50's and day time highs inches into the low seventies. Our once 85 degree pool water is now back down to 68 degrees -- brrr. Even though the kids don't mind the cold pool water and could run through the cold sprinkler water for hours, it is painful to try to crawl into the pool to enjoy the final days of summer with them. I heard on the weather this evening, that the next few days will be in the low 80's, so we will definitely be taking advantage of these last few warm days of summer.
Has your summer been memorable? Did you do anything fun during the recent 4th of July holiday? Like I shared earlier, we took the girls to NH to visit and stay at my parents' summer home near Lake Winnipesaukee. While there, I met up with old friends and they took us out on their boat. Years ago, we had a boat of our own, but due to my father retiring and the added up-keep of a boat and storing fees, my parents thought it best to sell it. Also, my brothers and I were starting families of our own, so we weren't taking the 3 hr. car rides up to visit frequently. But, it was nice to finally get out on the water. I could see why my family loved it so much, and why I have so many fond memories of family boat trips -- especially during the 4th of July holiday weekend, when we would have family and friends visit and take them out on the boat to see the fireworks after having a nice seafood dinner at a local family favorite restaurant.
This was the first time I was able to take the girls out on the water, as they were too little last year to even consider it. While Arabella, the youngest, was more apprehensive and clung to my husband or I, Savannah the "big girl" that she is, wanted to go tubing with the older children, or at least jump off the boat into the water. Unfortunately, we only started taking her in the pool this year, so she hasn't learned to swim yet. But, with her floaties on and my husband and I taking turns in the water, the afternoon was filled with squeals of excitement as Savannah and my friends and their children enjoyed the warm water of Lake Winnipesaukee. I had taking so many great photos to capture the girls' first boat ride and movies of Savannah jumping off the boat, but leave it to one of the girls to drop the camera in the water, destroying the photos. :-( While the photos are gone from the camera, I still have many great memories etched in my mind, and am hoping that my friends were able to capture some great photos to share.
After experiencing being out on the boat again, it really makes me seriously consider visiting my parents more often in NH and buying a small boat. My dad and I used to love getting up early in the AM and going fishing, while my brothers and mom slept. And, then, once the hot weather came during the summer months, it was nice to get out on the boat and the have the air blow on our face and hair and cool us down, as splashes of water misted us. :-)
Do you have boat? If so, I bet you have some amazing memories that you have shared with your family during the summer. I would love to hear about your recent or even upcoming boating trips. I am hoping the weather warms up, as we were invited for one last hooray come Labor Day weekend with my friends again. When I told Savannah, you should have saw her face light up. Now, she is eagerly awaiting her next NH vacation, while in the interim, is learning how to swim better, so she can enjoy the water more! :-) I am also hoping that this next boat trip, will help me convince my husband to invest in a boat in the coming years. I am not alone in thinking that being out on a the water on a boat, let it be yours or a friend or family members is beneficial to the family as a whole. According to the Discover Boating 2012 Survey, "58 percent of Americans say boating is a great opportunity to bond with family." And, last year alone, the National Marine Manufactures Association reported that "Eighty-eight million Americans went boating in 2012!" Were you one of them?
So, with summer winding down, I hope you and your family get to enjoy a few more boat rides before you pull your boat out of the water for the season. Or, if you are curious about investing in a boat, or even renting a boat for the upcoming Labor Day weekend, why not check out DiscoverBoating.com for great resources and educational tools for boaters of all levels! "Discover Boating is a nonprofit program supported by the U.S. recreational boating industry to help people get on the water to experience the fun of boating. For those looking to get their feet wet, www.DiscoverBoating.com is an unbiased online resource to explore the enjoyment and accessibility of the boating lifestyle. Packed with easy, interactive features to familiarize people with all aspects of life on the water, www.DiscoverBoating.com has a boat selector guide, cost comparison tool, renting options, favorite boating destinations, links to education courses – even nautical lingo and how-to videos. Plus, the website offers tools and information for experienced boaters looking to learn more."
From boating activities: http://bit.ly/10OwifM to boat rentals: http://bit.ly/12MzVbA, as well as a handy cost comparison tool: http://bit.ly/10OwYC6, DiscoverBoating.com has you covered for all your boating needs.
Enjoy the final days of summer while boating, while being safe! :-)
Disclosure: “I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Discover Boating. I received collateral to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
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