This year has been expensive.

I’ve essentially been throwing money away left and right.

Okay…not really throwing away…I have gained so many memories and experiences.

But you get what I’m saying, right?

I mean if you have to buy a boat so that one can add wakeboarding to your 40 before 40 bucket list of adventures…

But that’s not really how it went down.

I wanted to take the kids to Disneyland and my husband wanted a boat for summer vacationing adventures.

So we compromised.

And did both.

Wait.

Is that really the definition of compromise?

Because we both got what we wanted and no one had to sacrifice.

Well, except the savings account.

That poor thing is really sacrificing.

I need a second job to pay for all these adventures.

Anyway, we bought a boat. The husband took two weeks vacation and we went on several boating adventures.

• A weekend in Conconully with my Dad
• Our annual family reunion on Banks Lake
• A long weekend in Chelan
• And a couple of days on American Lake

We enjoyed lakes, sunshine, and family and friend time.

A little over a year ago when I was about to start my 40 before 40 bucket list I wrote a little post about our annual trip to Banks Lake.

Here is an excerpt:

If I say 40 adventures between my 39th and 40th birthdays then it simply will not do to try wakeboarding when I’m two weeks and one day out from the big day (plus I’m pretty sure I’ve already tried it). I know. Everyone asks how I can’t remember, but I suffer from CRS disorder.

Don’t worry it’s not a real thing…it stands for “can’t remember sh*t”.

You see, I know that I’ve knee boarded and water skied. I’m just not sure if I’m confusing those two things with wakeboarding and thinking I’ve done that too. Ugh. I’m really going to be a disaster when I’m actually old and can’t remember anything. I apologize in advance to whoever is taking care of me then.

So I didn’t try wakeboarding then (mostly because I was a chicken), but it’s funny how things have a way of working out.

Or coming full circle or something like that.

Because here I am, the owner of a new boat (that I never wanted) but that I’ve grown to love.

And trying wakeboarding. Officially. As an almost 40 year old. See age doesn’t determine whether or not you can try something new.

Only you can.

This is not an easy sport. I mean Jaxon is getting really good at it. Beau was pretty good until he injured himself on a crash. Emilee isn’t really all that into it. But I’m just happy I got up on that wakeboard at all.

I will try to paint the story through video and photo, but my son needs to work on his videography.

Lake Conconully

​

​​Fail…there were several more of these. I’ll spare you the videos, but just know there was a lot of complaining that Beau wasn’t driving the boat straight and that is why I was eating water.

But then I had success. Sort of. I can’t steer or keep the board straight or stand up all the way.

But hey, I got up.​​

​Face plant.

Banks Lake

I love this place. We had a great trip and lots of lake time. This time I tried Bethany’s board and that one was way easier to control. I might need my own board, if I’m going to make this a habit…

And…another face plant.

Lake Chelan

I did not attempt wake boarding here because that lake is WAY too choppy. But Jaxon and Jordan did. They were frustrated with the lack of lake smoothness. Glad I just watched during this trip.

It was still beautiful on the lake and in the water.

​

American Lake

This was a fun trip with friends too. The houses on this lake are gorgeous. I want one.

I decided I’d better get it in gear and get back up on that board. I even crossed the wake (on purpose not due to lack of control like on previous lakes).

I’d show you that video, but most of it is of the boat cushion and not of me (oh Jaxon).

​Yeah…I let go. Way less painful than crashing.

Here’s one of Jaxon. He’s getting pretty good and doesn’t look like a wobbly baby horse like me.

​We all enjoyed the new boat and its adventures! So I guess it was a good idea. Although like I mentioned…the savings account might disagree.

Only one more to go!

Until next time,

Adventure awaits…