Weekend Watersports is Laboring

It's Labor Day weekend people, and good grief, did I ever labor. In a semi last minute decision, Brad and I headed north this weekend for one last summer stint at the cottage. It made it easier because the weekend was going to be full of family, but we also decided in order to save our sanity, that we'd leave late Sunday night so we'd have one day at home alone before heading back to the work week grind. What a fabulous decision.
However, that left only two days for fun in the sun, and boy did we ever cram things in. Friday afternoon I rode north with Molly, as Brad and Jay headed to Roscommon to play Forest Dunes. (Their love for golf is intense, I seriously think I need to start a golf widow weekend for myself, but that's for another post...) Anyway, it was a fun drive north, filled with chatting, Lotus buns (mmmmm, so delicious - I can feel the Asian bakery on Fourth street getting richer as I type this) and general merriment. We arrived to the cottage safe and sound, ready for a little beach time, a delicious Mediterranean pasta dinner (I forgot to take pictures) and reading while waiting for boys to finish golfing.
Now here's where it gets serious, Saturday and Sunday were filled to the brim! I've noticed lately that I need to get back to good exercise habits, and this weekend was a kick start. I woke up both mornings, yeah, that's right, both to run a 5K in the morning sun. Saturday's run was MUCH harder than Sunday (I literally couldn't get my HR below 162 even while walking for a good stretch), but Sunday I learned a few race walking tricks and kept my HR at a consistent 176. I'm really proud of myself for getting back on the wagon. It's a difficult road, but I think my jiggles will thank me later (at least I hope). After my morning run Saturday, it was a quick breakfast of wheat toast, piled high with natural peanut butter, sliced bananas, and honey. I love this breakfast. It's one of my up north staples. But eating breakfast is not laboring. Kayaking is!
After breakfast, Jay, Molly, Sylvie, Brad and I, headed kayaking/canoing/tubing down the Betsie River. I haven't been kayaking in a long time, not since the first time I tried it last year, with someone who I unfortunately don't talk to anymore. But that's here nor there, the point is that going this weekend renewed my smooshy love. I seriously love kayaking. There's something about being out on the water to me, surrounded by trees and fishes, that makes me really happy. Brad thinks I'm nuts, but I'm all about buying a kayak rack for my soon-to-be new car before I even buy used kayaks. I'm that serious.
It was a really beautiful day out on the river, and nobody fell in! Not even Sylvie, who did her best impression of a wiggle worm the whole time. Here's our smiling faces.

Sylvie gets ready to canoeBZ and his leisure tube rideThe Zawacki's canoeMe and the Kayak

After kayaking, we returned just in the nick of time to watch the season football opener. Michigan of course! Being all Wolverine Alumnus, the Zawacki household is definitely a bit "Go Blue," and Sylvie even wore her "M shirt" for 2 days prior. She had a meltdown when she wasn't allowed to wear it again on Sunday ("I, tear, wuhhhna, tear, wear my M shirt, tear, like unka Beez, tear"). Heartbreaking I tell you. Despite the overall game loss, it was a good start to the Rodriquez era, and I'm really excited that the return of fall brings the return of football Saturdays and playing the Victors until my heart's content. Let's Go Blue.
After the late game there was some tasty grilled hamburger dinner, a round of putt-putt golf, ice cream in Frankfort, a nice toasty fire outside, a giant tub of margarita's, and several rounds of Euchre. Whew. What a day. Needless to say, you can see why I was exhausted!
Sunday, like I mentioned, began with another of my runs. Yahoo for not being lazy! After my morning shower and breakfast (this time eggs, toast, and homemade wild raspberry jam - shout out to Amber for making it), it was time for the entire Shuberg clan to arrive. I can't remember how many people there are in all, but let's just say that after everyone gets there, it's a house full of people, plenty of babies (4; including a set of twins), 2 dogs, and general chaos. We all headed down to the beach, swimming and sunning, until Jay convinced me to try my hand at water skiing. Oh geez. I've tried a few times before when I was much younger to water ski, but I never make it up, so I gave up. I don't know what made me try again this weekend (pure goat I guess), and even though I still didn't make it up, I'm glad I tried again. Now I have another goal for 2009! Water skiing is seriously hard, and I can feel literally every muscle in my body (aching btw) today, but that means it's an awesome workout, right? Hopefully next summer I'll be strong enough to pull myself up.

Jay gets up on skii'sBrad get's up on skii's

I sink in the water

After skiing, there was lunch, conversation, and finally, a much needed nap. Man, was I whipped. I awoke to find it almost dinner time; where there was a master plan to bike to the park and pick up pizza. Unfortunately, the plan was thwarted by a flat tire, and a car ride to the park had to suffice for a picnic pizza dinner in the park. Say that three times fast.
Finally, we closed out the weekend with some after-pizza birthday "happy cake" for Molly (who turns 34 next Saturday!), before we headed out at almost 9pm for our 4 hour drive home. What a weekend I tell you. At least I'm at home not planning on doing a damn thing but sleeping and being lazy today. (Alright, maybe a short walk just to keep me on track...)