This labor day weekend really crept up on us. With the possibility of rain with remnants of hurricane Issac we were not really ready to plan a big get away weekend. Turned out that instead of rain the heat was turned back up and camping was not even a fleeting thought! So we did a couple day trips. Saturday we spent the day at Robbers Cave State Park. Our day just flew by and we almost didn't have enough time to enjoy the entire park. The kids loved swimming, once they got in the water. The shore is rocky and a bit murky. James jumped right it but it took the other kids a little bit to get in the water. They loved jumping off the dock-including James he has no fear when it comes to water. The girls enjoyed the playground with James and Brayden was all about catching minnows. At one point he had waded into the murky shore line up to his arm-pits....all I could think about was snakes! We did enjoy a little naturalist led hike (we were the only family out in the heat) The kids had fun looking for fish and identifying animal tracks. There was also a snake feeding at the nature center-quite gruesome, but educational none the less. Becca hid behind me for most of the time while Brayden was front and center. All James had to say was "YUCK" We spent so much time around the water that by the time we made it to the horse barn the gates were closed-us girls were pretty disappointed but we headed up to the cave area to do a little exploring. The kids had fun climbing-even Andrea had fun exploring and finding tunnels. The day quickly came to an end and we found ourselves pulling into the driveway 10pm wondering where the day went.
Brayden did do a little fishing but didn't catch anything-although he did attract some a couple little local boys where were full of local fishing knowledge. Very funny to overhear their conversation.
Only in Oklahoma! And yes someone caught it and took it home....NOT US!
Becca is quite the little climber and is pretty good at figuring out how to get up and down....almost more so than Brayden. On days like this one there is little time for naps and James is just one energizer bunny-it amazes me how well he does without sleeping.
After a good four months of waiting for his father's day gift this hammock finally arrived. Our friends have one that always looks wonderfully relaxing so I decided to get one. Crazy thing was that no matter where I ordered it from it always came from the same place-Mexico....not that I mind but the warehouse there was in no hurry to ship. We missed two trips to MI and were finally able to give it a test....it slept well according to Ron!
Monday Ron and I enjoyed a bike ride together, something we have not had the time or the sitters for lately. Wonderful to have a little time together riding. We spent the rest of the day floating the Illinois river. Ron would say float, I would say paddled! It was work! When I mention float trip I think 2 miles and the kids jumping out and swimming most of the way. This is NOT was Ron thinks when he hears float. We "floated" 12miles in 105 degree weather....we were all sun burned and parched. The kids did have a blast-swimming, jumping off a rope swing, floating with the current. James did managed to fall out of the boat once although he loved the water so no big deal just a little shocking. Andrea made the comment "this is just bad" as Ron was pushing us over a shallow rapid area, she also wondered out loud on one particular hot slow section "why are we doing this?" she just made me laugh with her random comments. Ron got a work out as we towed the kayak most of the way-giving way to many funny moments. I will let you envision the canoe getting caught up on a rock in rapids with the kayak rushing on by only to be flipped around backward (two wide-eyed kids) because we can't untie them fast enough from the canoe-funny funny! Anyway, no flipping just lots of funny moments-mostly resulting in boats floating down the river backwards-although at one point I think Brayden was paddling backwards?? We did hit another raft much to my embarrassment and Brayden did have to make a detour to pick up Becca after she fell off the kayak and couldn't keep up. Sounds a little crazy now that I think about it! All in all it was a huge work-out, way to long but it gave me a lot to smile about...after we got slushy's, water and ice-cream!
1 comment:
Looks like you a had nice, fun, HOT weekend!
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