Finally! The kid trip!

The kids have been waiting all summer for this trip! Thirteen of them rafted this year and four of them got to paddle! We ran into Gary and Caroline Lynch. They are a couple from Texas who were rangers assigned to West Table (the put-in). They retired two years ago, but were back on special assignment this year. They asked about our group - "The Mad Hatters," Caroline said, "That's what we called you!" [Come back for some rafting pictures - I have to go begging for those.]

The Junior Mad Hatters - trip one.

Junior Mad Hatters - trip two.

Junior Mad Hatters - trip three.

We ate. Jackson makes himself a sandwich at lunchtime.

We explored. The kids pose in front of a tepee that was used in Dances With Wolves!

We played games. Sharon and Amy stayed back with the kids.
Here they are, playing musical chairs.

A game of Rock, Paper, Scissors

Alexis and Nate try the "Belly Buster."
They try to wrap the ball around the pole.

We played in the secret hideout - under a pine tree in camp.

We giggled.

We roasted marshmallows.

We sang songs around the campfire.

We had a wonderful trip! It is something the kids look forward to every year. They have the chance to get out, have fun, bond with aunts, uncles and cousins and, of course, camp and raft!

Finally! A river trip!

Our first family trip of the year was "adults only." Everyone in our family was there except Bryan and Becky and, of course, Danny. Justin's brother, Joe and his wife Liz and Mike and Amy's friends, Kevin and Sheila joined us. Two nursing babies also came along on their very first river trip! The weather was great, the river was still high and fast - we had a blast! Check Joann's blog for some rafting and kayaking pictures. I'll get more pictures in two weeks when all the kids are there! Yippee!
Gus is ready for the river!
Brigham and Rachel take their first river trip. No rafting, but they were great little campers!

Crazy hats! We found out that the rangers had been wondering where we were - we started our rafting season a little late this year.

More crazy hats!