Proud Papa!!

Some of you may or may not know that after years of begging and pleading and whining Sam finally wore me down and several months ago I let him buy a boat (he doesn't think this sentence is funny - I do). Anyway, I have to admit that we have had a great time on the boat - most of the time.

The first time we went out Sam put the boat in and I walked down to the dock with the boys to get on. They were SOOOO excited. I set my bags down on the dock to put Caleb in while Sam held the boat. All of a sudden Carter flipped out, screamed he didn't want to get on, picked up my bags and headed off the dock towards the car. I grabbed him and put him on the boat and off we went - with him screaming. He soon stopped and really enjoyed the boat ride. Then it was time to get out. Sam went to get the truck and trailer and I was going to attempt to drive the boat onto the trailer for the first time. Carter started getting a little nervous and as we got close to the trailer he once again started screaming - while trying to climb over the back of my seat - while I am pulling the boat onto the trailer for the first time. Fun. He screamed at the top of his lungs, that lovely high pitched, panicked scream. I seriously thought about tossing him over the side (just kidding grandma). Once we were on the trailer and pulling out he was fine. We parked and climbed out and began walking back to the car. Carter said, "I had fun on the boat Mommy. I just cried a little. Next time I won't cry so much."

Thankfully the next couple of times he got better and better. However once it was warm enough to swim he wanted no part of it. He didn't even want to stand on the swim platform. After a couple of times he got braver and now he jumps right in and goes under. Sam has been talking about getting a tube but with our cautious boy I didn't think he would go for being pulled behind the boat. He doesn't like going fast (by fast I mean over 10 mph). So yesterday while we were out and Sam was wake surfing he asked Carter if he wanted to get in and ride slow on the board. After several minutes of us talking to him and assuring him that Mommy would go very slow he agreed. He loved it!!! Of course Caleb wants to do everything brother wants to do so he got to ride as well. Then Carter wanted to go again and Sam decided to see if they could stand up on the board together. I couldn't believe my cautious first born was going for this but he agreed to try!! Now you have to understand Sam has dreams of his boys being pro wake boarders and making enough money for him to retire early. I have been doubtful of this happening seeing that it took weeks for Carter to even get in the water. So I started driving and they stood up together!! I was hollering and running back to take pictures with my cell phone (yes I was also driving but the boat will go straight by itself for a little while :). Carter's first words after I stopped the boat and he and Daddy fell into the water?

"When Ava comes on the boat she can see me stand up on the skateboard (what he calls the surfboard)."

Always thinking about his Ava. Meanwhile Proud Papa is looking into kids' amateur wake surfing competitions and thinking about retirement.

Here is Carter's first ride on the board.


Caleb gets a ride!


They're up!!


Daddy getting really good at this wake surfing thing - no rope!!