The River...

So... if you know Steve at all, you know that he is not the "outdoor" type! He swore up and down for the past 7 years that he would NEVER take us camping! He even said that if we wanted to go camping, Uncle Jeff would have to take us! Well, have times changed! We went on our very first camping trip and ALL of us (including Steve) loved every minute of it! Our friends Genny and Tony DeRosa hosted us for a weekend at the river! I hadn't been to the river since my early 20's and Steve probably the same. We rented a trailer, had our own private beach, used flashlights to see at night, sat underneath the Milky Way in beach chairs, and had to wash our feet off before we entered the trailer because of the dirt... now if that is not camping... than I don't know what is!

Woo-hoo... Steve has taken us camping! Hallelujah!

As you look at the pictures, please look at how absolutely happy the girls (and mommy too) are in this environment! They loved it! Steve might not admit it, but he actually started looking at boats online when we got home! Haha, we just might have a convert on our hands ladies and gentlemen!!! Whoopie!

So, let me walk you through some of the highlights...

THE TRAILER

When we checked in, Ryan loved the bunkbeds.

Charlie loved showing the boys her new digs!
(Little did she know at this point, that these boys are experts at the river!)

A FEW OF OUR FIRST EXPERIENCES...

The girls first priority... getting on that boat to see all about it!


Mommy and Daddy loved the first boat cruise... I was in heaven... and Steve realized that he was in for it!

Charlie loved her new fairy life jacket... she wanted to wear it all the time!

Lots of:

TIME TO HANG OUT...

...at the Sand Bar with the group

(Jen and Ernie and their kids Riley and Jackson;te Graces;Tony and Genny and their kids Ally, Cory, and Brandon; Jen's brother Chris, girlfriend Jessica, daughter Alix, and friend Ed)

Seriously, this was such a fun group... we could not have asked for better company!

... on our beach

(me, Jessica, Jen, and Genny)

... with the ladies!

(Jen and Genny in a Steve sandwich)

... with great friends!

(Genny and me)

... with the happiest kiddos on the planet!

... with a beer

... or a red solo



KID TIME...

... in the secret caves on the bunkbeds for coloring time

... on the boat for a dance party

...building a sand hole with best bud, Alix!

(Oh how I wished Alix lived closer... she was great with the girls and a perfect age to babysit!)

... cruisin' the streets of Moabi!

(Jackson and Brandon)

(Oh how I wished I would have gotten a picture of Charlie in the jeep with the boys! So, so adorable! All of us grown ups would say, "O how this trip would be different in 10 years!)

SWIM TIME...

This child has no fear! What a natural!

Charlie got after it too... she loved it!

Remember what I said about those amazingly happy faces???

Priceless.

TIME WITH THE TOYS...

The girls easily welcomed the thought of tubing behind the boat!



Until of course, the boat started moving! Whoa... how things change! Ryan loved it. Charlie hung in there for a lot longer than any of us expected! I was proud of her. Cory and Ally finally had to give the "cut it" sign though so we could get Charlie off! No tears though... just huge grins!

So... then mommy got on for a little spin! Look at Cory and Ally... total professionals! They were all up on their knees, just cruisin' ... while I was holding on for dear life! Whoa!

Don't forget the SeaDoos. Alix was the captain of this "ship" for sure. She took out both girls and me for spins around the river. We all loved it. My favorite was when Alix took me out at dusk. The sun was going down, the bats were out, the river was calm... it was so beautiful!

Oh shoot... I thought I got one of Charlie too.

Whoops... she had a great time out there too. Such brave little munchkins.


BOAT TIME HAD TO BE THE BEST...

The kids all sat up front of Genny and Tony's boat! The "thumbs up" sign means faster! They loved it! In this picture, Brandon and Cory and Ryan and Charlie.

Steve and I would sit in the back! We could see everything ahead...

In this picture: Our hosts... Genny, daughter Ally, and Tony!

Such awesome people to hang out with!

Sometimes Charlie would get a little scared up front on the boat, so she would come back andsnuggle with daddy!

My perfect...

Now this picture truly says it all... look how happy these girls are! Seriously, this was a great trip! I really, really hope we get to do it again!

Thank you so much to the DeRosa family for having us! It is no small feat having all of the gear and "toys" for the river... and it came together like a perfectly well oiled machine!