What better way to cap off the Smith Family Reunion than with the annual Stormy Lake Boat Parade?! Every year we sit and watch the boat parade go by (which has seriously weakened over the years) and I vow to enter the boat parade the following year. My commitment to revive the parade is usual met with mixed emotions--some excited to join in the festivities, some reluctant, and some happy to let me do the work but would rather sit back and watch. So this year, since we now have our own boat and our place at Stormy, I followed through on my desire to revive the boat parade. And it's amazing what a little excitement can do! Mom and Dad decided to also participate in the boat parade and everyone really got into it--bringing decorations, outfits, etc.
Getting our boat ready...
Love this picture of Sadie! Unfortunately we lost her to my in-laws boat during the parade...apparently she thought she'd have more fun on their boat!
Whitney found this great shirt at Goodwill and Ty busted out the american flag bandana
Our boat...completed and ready to go!
(There are prizes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place boat parade contestants.....oh yes, it's a competition complete with prize money! Last year there were only 3 boats but I'm happy to report that participation climbed to a rousing 7 boats this year and we are hoping for double that next year! Apparently there are rumors that at one point in time, there were 25 boats in the parade. We've got a ways to go! )
Some of our crew...let's just say that there was NO lack of enthusiasm on our boat!
Mom and Dad's boat was right behind us in the parade.....when Kyle decided to climb atop the high bar with pinwheels in hand, he definitely took the parade to the next level and the gauntlet had been thrown down.
Getting our game on.....yelling USA to those on shore, trying to pick out who the judges were, pumping some serious tunes and dance moves like you've never seen!
(standing on Dad's shoulders didn't last too long....things apparently got a bit out of hand when Wyatt did this and we were clearly losing our minds in our attempts to rouse the excitement of the crowd!)
Our fearless driver
Even Eli got in the spirit
Dancing for the crowds
the boat parade behind us...
A few close up shots of the Dave and Joan Sorensen boat
And this is what a boat parade will do to a tired 3-year old...
The Matt and Kristin Sorensen boat crew
We got a call that evening that we had gotten 2nd place and Mom and Dad's boat had gotten 3rd.....not bad for our first year in the parade. But we've got our eyes set on this guy for next year....he got 1st place. Not sure how we'll be able to compete with that shirt he's got, but I think a bigger flag may help our cause (and a few other ideas that floated around--blasting Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA, bring a soldier in uniform on board, choreographed dance moves, etc).
Next year will be epic--mark my words!
After the boat parade excitement died down, Papa offered to take some people out for a sail. Ty and Whitney had been wanting to go all weekend since they had never been sailing before and Wyatt and Sadie are always game. Thank goodness our kids did go along because Dad ended up beaching the sailboat a couple of times (for various reasons) and Whitney and Ty were clueless as to how they could help or what to do. As Ty commented, "It was complete chaos! There were ropes everywhere, sails flapping and we were headed towards shore at a pretty good pace.....thank goodness for Wyatt! He knew exactly what to do and how to help Dave and he didn't panic at all."
We were on the boat watching this entire scenario unfold and it provided quite the entertainment....
We eventually tossed them a ski rope and Dad asked Ty to hang onto it while we towed them out a bit...
..priceless picture!
On our last night together, we ate dinner at my in-laws and had a bonfire with some more yummy s'mores. Sadie enjoying her last few hours with Caleb...seriously, he is such a cutie and so happy!
Acting like Mommy to all the boys
Ty asked me to take this picture of he and Caleb and Caleb's smile was just precious
We had such an amazing time with everyone...the moments we most treasured, however, are those not caught on camera....the late night rounds of the game "things", bonfires, long talks with cousins about church/kids/life, hearing stories from Grammy of their first years at Stormy Lake 50-some years ago, advice from wise relatives and time spent relaxing in one of the best places on earth.
This picture--one of my faves from the week--captures it all!
And another chapter was written in the Smith family history at Stormy Lake.
What a blessing this lake has been to so many of us.
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