Pirate Birthday Part 1- The Friends

This year Isabel planned an overnight Sailing Pirate Party on our boat with her 3 best friends.

 

Friday afternoon,  JJ went ahead to the Lake and enjoyed a couple estrogen free hours sailing alone while I rounded up the friends. A moving epidemic has broken out where we live-- 2 of her best friends live on opposite sides of the phoenix metropolis and her last friend will be moving soon-- which made this weekend extra special for Isabel.

After rendezvousing with friends, swapping Laney and Jordan for sleepovers at their own friends, and grabbing some grub, we made it to the lake just in time for sunset!

--Video from the car ride--

Here we are, crashing JJ's party

We pulled into our cove for the night and got ready for our night swim.

Some campers drove in on a truck and broke out the booming rap music.

We weighed a night with the rappers and booze with the risk of hitting hazards or sandbars motoring in the dark and...

We moved.

We found our own private Island with only the soundtrack of jumping fish and distant braying wild donkeys.

The kids settled in for the night and watched the live action Peter Pan on our mini DVD

Cozied up in their comfy beds

JJ and I slept out on the deck benches--

It was a bit hard on the back but the stars were beautiful! 

Breakfast was served @..... 5:30 am...

 " How did you sleep girls? "

 

We decided to name our Island IHIA (eye-hi-uh) after their initials.

We took advantage of the winds in the morning and sailed around the lake pulling the raft behind

In their own words " swarming the raft like ants for food"

While Izzy and Isabel rode on the raft, Anya took a turn sailing the boat

It was cute--

 Haylee, used to rafting behind a motor boat,

told Isabel to tell JJ to  "go faster"

Isabel told her to tell it to the wind!

Unfortunately there is only one speed on a sailboat!

When the winds started to die, we headed back to IHIA island to explore. We anchored off shore and swam in.

Exploring their Island

They named the various landscapes....

and...

Then Back to the boat for more Swimming and....

 Jumping!

Ready For the Jump

 

Unfortunately, some of my favorite angles for pictures are from the water. I decided to take a risk and hop on the raft for different view.

These were the results

I'd say it was worth the risk, of course, I wouldn't say that if my Minolta ended up at the bottom of the lake!

All's well that ends well, right?

JJ passed out for a little nap and then we headed home

Turns out JJ wasn't the only one in need of a little siesta!

A little Ice Cream Cake Rejuvenation!

Her friends were so thoughtful, each present couldn't  have been more perfect for her. Thank You!

The girls each painted a little treasure chest I got from Hobby Lobby.  

I love how each one turned out different and suited their personalities!

We had such a great time, JJ confided in me afterward, that he had been worried it would be a drama disaster. 4 adolescent girls stuck together in a small space for 24 hours would normally be asking for trouble. But they were so sweet and polite and completely drama free. We had such a great time- we planned to make it a yearly tradition.

 Hopefully next spring we can find a new island to explore!

...After swapping back the friends. We picked up Jordan And Laney for part two of our sailing weekend-- Family Time--