Then in the afternoon we hooked up the boat to the truck, trailer lights working, tires pumped up, snacks in the cooler, water bottles filled, life jackets and towels ready and headed to our favorite lake.  It's Wiser Lake on Guide Meridian but it's a small lake with lots of water fowl.  The water is kind of brown. It may seem gross but it's warmer than the other lakes around.  There can only be six motoized boats on the lake at a time, which is ideal for us.  We showed up around 2pm, were the firsts ones on the lake and stayed until after 6 pm.  We were the last off the lake.  Yesterday was one of the warmest days of the year and at most there were 4 watercraft on the lake.  I'm sure Whatcom was packed. We were able to put our boat in and take out without feeling rushed.  Good thing it because it usually takes a few tries pulling it out.  First time on the water this year the kids started slowly, just tubing around, going slow over bumps and working their way up to going outside the wake.  John has these old wooden water skis from when he was a kid that our kids are learning on.  Isaac popped up out of the water on the 2nd or third try.  That was so exciting because getting up is the hardest part.  Then Job and Lona started by sitting on the inner tube.  The boat drags the tube a little ways before John hits it and Job and Lona just stand up.  (Thanks to Susan who gave me this idea. This is how her dad taught kids to ski. )  It still took a couple of tries but they did it.  The only catch is that I'm with the kid in the water.  I help them up onto the tube, tell them how to hold their arms and give them encouragement.  If they fall right away, I'm there to grab skis and get them onto the tube again.  Lona was afraid that the catfish were going to eat her if she stayed in the water too long.  She had no problem with me being in the water for over an hour while the kids tried and then succeeded. I was so proud of the kids because even when they wanted to quit, they kept trying.  Job loves to inner tube though.  He puts on his googles so water doesnt get into his eyes and then wants to hit all the bumps.  At one time the tube went completely on it's side.  It almost flipped over and I still don't know how he didn't flip out.  John and Lona went on the tube together and they did flip.  They cartwheeled over each other and Lona landed under John.  She popped up saying "That was totally wicked!"  Being with John made her braver.  I  got up on the little wooden skis and John was able to use his wake board a couple of times.  We would have stayed longer but we were almost out of gas and the dog had been in his kennel for the whole time.  Finally home for dinner, a little birthday present shopping and neighborhood kids in the pool.  I am sore today, it has been a long time since I've done any exercising at all, and I can feel it.