Canoe Trip

Sovie is ready, folks

 Our last full day we ventured out for a canoe trip!  It took quite a bit of planning (mostly by Sara's husband, Kirk) to make sure everyone had rides at various drop-off and pick up stations and to make sure big kids/little kids all had places in the canoes.

 I was a part of the first leg of the trip, and Kari and Christian were in our canoe.  It was really beautiful and fun and the hour ride went by very quickly.  Both kids really had fun.  We even saw a bald eagle swooping around!  Very cool b/c they are BIG birds.

The big strong guys, hauling the canoes down to the water--go Grandpa!

Off we go!

Looking good, kids!

Shawn, Berkley, Sovie, and Whitney

 At the drop-off, Whitney and I got off with Kari, Berkley, and Sovie.  Emily and Reagan hopped aboard and Luke and Amy took over in a canoe for the second half.  The boys, Christian, Kaden, and William (along with Gpa, Bethany, Shawn, Kirk, Sara, and Cubby) all kept going!

Now, since my part of the canoe trip went so smoothly, I assumed the second half would be similar.  Not so. Apparently, there were some very fast waters and two of the canoes actually tipped, giving a couple of the big kids (and adults) a soak and giving everyone a bit of a scare.  Luckily, the big guys were all out on the water and were able to help get the canoes turned over and hoist the kiddos out of the water and back into the canoes.  Aunt Sara and Amy were also pretty impressive as Sara went under and held Emily up and Amy kept her balance a midst the water and a clinging Reagan!  Meanwhile, Christian was over on the bank of the river, watching them right the canoes, sucking his lollipop.  (Cubby had told him not to move and, for once, he listened.)

I was just so thankful they were all safe and no one got hurt.  It was quite the experience.  When we asked the kids if they all wanted to do a river rafting trip at our next reunion, they didn't think it was a very good idea.