Grateful for Graceful Wakes

Oh my goodness! Today was the perfect summer day thanks to Graceful Wakes. This amazing organization partners with local water ski clubs (in this case the Rock Aqua Jays down in Janesville) to host accessible water skiing clinics for people of all abilities.

Teddy participated in this program last year for the first time and had a great day despite pretty crummy weather. This year our entire family went for the day of fun and enjoyed perfect summer weather and sunshine.

Teddy got to ski 3 times and was so excited each time. The last time he even was waving as he came back to shore. The skiers sit in a chair mounted on a ski, so even people who cannot walk can have a go at water skiing. They have side skiers on either side of the chair to hold and support the individual skiing in the chair.

It’s incredible the amount of volunteers who make these clinics happen. Picture almost 25 people getting up to 3 turns skiing, assisted by 2 buddies each time, plus another couple people in the water assisting with getting into the chair and catching when the skiers return, plus boat drivers, announcers and photographers. We’re so grateful they chose to give their time and talents to allow our family to enjoy today.

Teddy also got to hang out on the pontoon boat. We missed the few rides they did, but we asked if we could sit on the boat earlier in the day and were welcomed aboard. That was great since Teddy is obsessed with pontoons, and that’s all he wanted in the moment.

Just call him Captain Teddy. That's what he thinks at least.

He also got to enjoy a tubing ride with AJ, and AJ managed to sneak in a second tube ride. It’s such a fun treat for our kiddos since this isn’t something we normally have access to do.

The boys enjoyed their tube ride ... a lot!

It was extra cool to have one of our MTT friends Raymond and his family there as well, so we got to visit with them. Plus one of my running buddies now lives in the Janesville area, so she and her family joined us as well to watch Teddy’s first run.

Then on our way home, we had to stop at the World’s largest Culvers (a Wisconsin custard and fast food restaurant). The real treat was we walked into the restaurant right ahead of my aunt and cousins from Mississippi—they were headed home from a week at my parent’s farm. We hadn’t planned it, yet our paths spontaneously crossed.

Such a serendipitous moment!

This goes into the memory bank as a fantastic summer fun day—we’re so grateful for these types of opportunities. Sometimes we have to fight for things for Teddy, and these types of gifts of accessibility and inclusion are even sweeter than the best custard in the world.