If It's August, It Must Be Winnie

We headed north last week to Lake W*nnibigoshish for our annual vacation in a cabin at B*wen Lodge Resort.  We were blessed with good weather (sunny and 70s, for the most part), decent fishing, and a happy, outgoing little girl.  Our first two stays here (in 2010 and 2011) were anything-but-relaxing , since Sarah wasn't familiar with the surroundings, the schedule, and the people, and became rigid and defiant.  I was hoping the third time would be the charm, and, indeed, it was. 

Sarah has matured in the last year and gained a lot of confidence.  She was excited about the trip, and, for the most part, stayed relaxed and flexible throughout.  She slept alone in her own room the first night, which amazed me, but then wanted me to sleep in the other twin bed.  I obliged, figuring we'd all benefit from her feeling more secure.   It was actually kind of fun -- like being at summer camp, which I never experienced as a child (and never cared to because I was such a homebody).

She ventured off to the playground (which is within sight of our cabin) by herself the evening we arrived and greeted everyone we met throughout the week with a cheery "hi."  The last day we were there, we passed a man making spinners (lures) on the deck of his cabin.  She called out, "What are you doing?" and proceeded to join him and converse for about 10 minutes.  The only disappointment of the trip was that the little girl her age who was in the cabin beside us last year didn't come this year.  I think they would have had a wonderful time together.

Don was diagnosed with pneumonia two days before we left, which is no way to start a vacation (he claimed he only had half a lung, but I helpfully pointed out he had one full lung).  Fortunately, with some quick-acting medications and hits from "Sarah's machine" (i.e., the nebulizer), he was feeling pretty good by the time we arrived and continued to improve over the course of the week.

Sarah and Dad went fishing on their own a couple of mornings, while I kayaked, walked, and journaled (ahhh!).  The first morning out, she caught two huge northern pike -- one 6 lbs. and the other 4 lbs.  Sure, Don had to reel them in, but she hooked them!  And, as she kept reminding us, she wasn't even scared.  The next morning, they returned with a bucket full of sunfish.  I think I should make myself scarce more often.  :)  Sarah enjoyed watching Dad clean fish this year.  The week's catch included eight walleye, 12 northern pike, and 28 sunfish, and we brought home about 10 meals of frozen fish. 

Sarah was much better at entertaining herself in the boat this year (I may be able to read a book in the bow again soon!) but still managed to get into mischief:

Sarah: "Dad, you lost something."

Dad: "What did I lose?"

S:  "Your nail clippers [which he uses to cut fishing line]."

D: "Where are they?"

S: "In the water."

D: "I didn't even know you had them."

S: "Let's get them."

And:

"Dad, you don't need all this rope" (as she was untying the anchor, about to set it free).

We took a day-trip to It*sca State Park this year, to show Sarah the headwaters of the M*ssissippi River (which flows less than a mile from our house on its way to the G*lf of Mexico) and some big pines. It was a delightful day. Sarah was in a particularly chipper and chatty mood and sang and talked to herself most of the drive. Always up for a challenge, she hiked the half-mile trail to the 100' fire tower, then climbed the steps to the top. She got many at-a-girls from folks gathered below and beamed with pride. Now that she's 4, there's nothing she can't do!

Enjoying a chocolate shake on the drive up

B*wen's Flats Cabin -- our home for the week

So happy to be reunited with her beloved Fluffy Muffin

My favorite kind of wake-up call

Ready for a fishing trip

Some plein air coloring

Enjoying the beach

She's outgrown the plastic tote we've used as a tub in previous years, so we washed her hair in the kitchen sink.

Don treating his pneumonia with "Sarah's machine"

Everyone loves a brown-eyed girl who loves s'mores.

She learned to tie her shoes right before we left home.

Walking with the real Fluffy Muffin on a leash and her little stuffed one in her shirt

Sometimes naps are unavoidable at the lake

Some evening fishing




An afternoon at the F*rest Service beach across Cut F**t S*oux Lake



Mom's me-time

Taking over Mom's seat

Sarah and her six-pound northern pike

Sarah's catch

Crafting at the lodge -- the girl loves glitter!

Enjoying some home-grown watermelon we brought along

Nice bluegill!

"A mess of sunfish"

Helping Dad clean fish

Sarah on the long steps down to the beach on Lake Winnie



An early-morning view from our deck

Headed out for the last day of fishing



Sarah got up late so she had to eat breakfast in the boat.

Cormorants, pelicans, and gulls on the point

Headed in to the beach and dock

Sarah in front of the lodge

One last s'more

Sad to be leaving tomorrow....

It*sca State Park:

Sarah at the headwaters marker

The headwaters that people walk across

Sarah in front of the large white pine

The A*ton H*ights Fire Tower

At the top of the fire tower

Coming back down

Playing at the visitor center

A Trip to the Spa

To get our toes beach-ready (as if we're headed to the tropics, and not a northern M*nnesota lake), Sarah and I had our first Mommy & Me pedicures today.  Unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough to catch the looks of pure delight on her face, only the staged smiles, but suffice it to say she enjoyed herself, as did I.  She chose orange and blue for polish, one for each foot, and decided to add glitter on top.  I was a little more conservative and went with just turquoise all around.

I hope these will be annual (at least!) events.  (Thanks for the gift cards, Emily and Rachel!)

Ol*mpic Spirit

After the way dance lessons went a few weeks ago, I was not surprised to hear the following the day before swimming lessons were to begin: "I'm not going."  The next morning, Sarah reiterated her remark, but, surprisingly, didn't put up any resistance when I forged ahead with putting her suit on and getting in the car.

At the pool, she agreed to have a seat with the rest of the class as the instructor called roll, as long as I sat behind her.  I figured there was no way she would get in the water, but, when the time came, she got up and jumped into the instructor's arms as requested.  She put her face in the water and even participated in "Ring Around the Pizza."  I was amazed and began to think our troubles were behind us. 

Then, she got quiet, turned toward the wall, and busied herself with running her finger around the seams in the deck.  When the instructor coaxed her to bob under the water, she shook her head and quietly dissolved into tears.  When pushed, she scrambled out of the pool, sobbing.  It was obvious that she had been mustering all of her courage to go along with the lesson but just couldn't keep it up any longer. 

I consoled her and told her she didn't have to do anything she didn't want to.  The instructor tried to persuade her to come back in, and she hid behind me.  Remarkably, though, after a few minutes, she regained her composure and got back into the pool, just as class was ending.  She is brave, my little girl.

The next day, I switched her from the Level 1 class (what was I thinking?) back to the Parent-Tot class that we tried last year but didn't continue because of cold, rainy weather.  She said she wouldn't go, but, fortunately, it was storming, so I knew we'd be watching a safety video inside.  That sounded okay to her, so off we went.  It was a good opportunity to meet her new teacher, Stefi, since most kids didn't show.

That night in the bath, Sarah asked me why she needs swimming lessons.  I tried to explain that I want her to be safe and have fun in the water.  I told her that she needs to learn to swim so that she can stay on top of the water and not go under because her lungs need air to breathe and she can't breathe underwater.  She asked what would happen if she got water in her lungs, and I said she might die (again, WWIT?).  She was obviously scared and started to cry.  She said, "Won't you be there, Mom?"  I said I would be most of the time, but when she's older, she might go swimming with her friends and I won't be there, so she needs to know how to swim and be safe. 

I felt awful.  Why couldn't I have said she might go to the hospital?  She's such a smart girl and asks such thoughtful questions, that I think I tend to give her too much information and overwhelm her sometimes.  I need to dial it back a bit.  I figured she'd never go in the water again.

Wednesday was her birthday, and I probably would have let her off the hook if she'd protested about going to swimming lessons, but she didn't argue, so off we went.  She was cautious about getting in the water and didn't want to play the games that Stefi led.  She floated on her back, though (with me holding her head and shoulders).  She seemed to like Stefi, and Stefi did a great job of pushing her gently to participate.

Thursday was the break-through day.  Sarah tried everything -- back float, swimming on the noodle, even jumping off the wall.  By Friday, she was jumping off the wall, going all the way underwater, and climbing back up to do it again.  She didn't want the lesson to end -- I couldn't believe it!

I was concerned she might forget the fun she'd had over the weekend and lose her enthusiasm by Monday morning, but, fortunately, the Ol*mpics started, and we let her stay up to watch the swimming and synchronized diving.  She was enthralled by the way the athletes entered and moved through the water.  Very nice timing.

The second week was a dream.  She looked forward to the lessons and challenged herself to do more and more.  She was very proud of herself.  Friday was Fun Day, and the kids could do anything they wanted, including go down the big water slide.  Surprisingly, Sarah wanted to go right away.  We climbed the stairs, sat down, and were off.  It was a wild ride, in my opinion, and she held on tightly to my arm, but she loved it (I was a little nervous -- it was tough to keep us both upright).  We did it four or five more times, and she's still talking about the crazy blue slide.

We're headed to Lake W*nnibogishish next week for our annual vacation, and it looks as though the weather will be warm.  I hope she'll get lots of time in the water.  I bought her some goggles, and she's been practicing in the tub with them.  I think she's finally decided that swimming is fun and not something to fear.  Talk about a turnaround....

Mom and Sarah after lessons (the crazy blue slide is in the background)

Sarah and Stefi on the last day