so this past weekend, we made a little trip up to my uncle's cabin with my parents ... about 2 1/2 hours from here. my family has been going there for years ... since we were kids. really nice ... right on the river. i really didn't take that many pictures ... nothing like i've done in the past. but i just didn't want to worry about dragging my camera down all the time. plus, the sun was killing me ... which explains why these photos are all over the place with coloring and shadows!
just a tiny little hike down from the cabin is the river ... with a little beach area to hang out. there are lots of spots to jump off rocks ... and if you hike farther down, there is some nature-made waterslides and a waterfall. we pretty much stuck to the little jumps and the beach area this trip ... nice and relaxed. the girls hung out in the water ... floated around on the tubes ... skipped rocks ... all that "river stuff"!
little breaks now and then for snacks ... and a bigger break mid-day for lunch up at the cabin ... before heading back down to the river.
hiking up the rocks to jump with papa. can you see sarah sticking her tongue out in concentration?!?! lol!
more hiking. and if i got pictures of them hiking ... that means i was hiking too. lol! i would hike up with them ... and then they would go jump off the rocks or float down the river in their tubes. and then i would hike back on my own.
there is alyssa jumping! it does look like she's really close to the rock on that one ... but trust me, she jumped out enough to clear it. lol! and this is only jump #1 ... there are actually 6 jumps of varying heights. but i'm too much of a worrier ... so i won't let them go any higher yet!
and sarah ... you'd think she literally ran right off that rock by this picture. lol! and now that i'm looking ... you might think they were going to actually land on a rock at the bottom ... but they actually landed in the water on the other side of that rock on the bottom. and btw ... just have to toss in here the fact that grammy jumps off these rocks too. which i know the girls think is cool. how many grandmas do you know that will jump off rocks like that? lol!
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and after they would jump ... they would float right down the river in the tubes. and if you're looking for pictures of me jumping off rocks ... or even swimming ... we'll have to dig out the photos from the last trip. because i did neither of those things. lol! i know my family gives me a bad time about it ... but i really just didn't want to put on a bathing suit or go swimming. i walked around in the water when i got hot ... and skipped rocks. the farthest i got in was almost up to mid-thigh ... at which point i got stung by a bee that was floating in the water. how crazy is that ... when do people get stung by bees?!?! that thing hurt like heck ... and proves why i didn't want to get in the water to begin with. lol!
the only downside ... you have to guard the property. yes, it's private property ... but it's also a very popular part of the river. so you get hundreds of people going through each day. you kindly ask them to respect the property ... and hike at the waters edge. and then you get all the people that want to argue with you ... pretend they don't know ... and say that they can do whatever they want. it's one of the downfalls ... puts a little damper on the fun. don't get me wrong ... we still had tons of fun ... and the girls loved it. just wish we could do without that part of it.
one of the main things we do at night ... is play cards. it's always been that way. usually, it's a super long game of rummy. we didn't try that until the 3rd night this trip ... i guess we weren't thinking that the girls could learn it. but they did great at it ... straights, runs ... they did it all. they have also mastered the game of blackjack. lol! seriously ... can't tell you fast alyssa cleaned us all out ... entirely out. we dug up all the change we could find in the car ... and played for money. the girls loved that. and i also taught alyssa how to play solitaire ... and she won her very first game. and then she preceeded to win about 4 more games after that. she was on a card roll this weekend!
so, all in all ... a nice, relaxing weekend. we thank grammy and papa for all they did on the trip ... and for helping keep the girls entertained. we were glad to get home though after 3 days. i think we all missed the comforts of home ... the tv, the computer, the couch, the comfy beds, and more than anything ... the shower. lol!
Wow! Lots of great pics there laura! The girls jumping off the rocks really looks so high...great action shots. There are so many rocks...gosh!! I can't believe you got stung, that is too crazy!
I'm glad you had a nice relaxing weekend! I love cards too, but no one else I know likes it, so solitare is a great game for me. Love it!
Posted by: Carla | August 05, 2008 at 06:19 PM
Hi Laura! Wow, looks like you had a great weekend away, love all those pictures, great shots you took! I agree with you, it's nice to get away for a few days, but nice to come home to your own bed, tv, computer etc! We leave on friday to a lake about 40 mins from here for 9 days in our camper. I know we'll have fun but I know that 9 days with all the cousins, etc. we'll be glad to be home.
take care,
Kathy F
Posted by: KathyF | August 05, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Great photos Laura! Love them all. Brought back memories of when I was a kid and jumping into the quarry back in NY. Ahhh...I'd NEVER be brave enough to do it now! Great pic of Nikolas yesterday, too! OMG is he ever funny!
Posted by: Lisa | August 05, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Great pics Laura! Looks like the girls had a blast! You are one brave mama to let them jump off those rocks and what GREAT pictures! Glad you enjoyed the time with your family.
Posted by: Lynn G | August 05, 2008 at 07:48 PM
Laura
It is great to reconnect with the family over a long weekend together. Thanks for sharing your photos.
Sorry to hear of your run in with the bee. I really hate bee stings. I was on a ladder climbing up to the hay loft when a large wood bee stung me. They are as big around as your thumb. I was about 9 at the time. I was raised on a large farm. Hard life, but good times too.
I hope your leg is feeling better soon. Benadryl has a anti-itch spray on.
Sandi N.
Posted by: Sandi | August 05, 2008 at 07:56 PM
what great jump shots! wish someone had pics of me doing that kind of stuff before I got so old that the very thought of doing it causes me to hurt
Posted by: Renee | August 05, 2008 at 08:14 PM
WOW - fantastic pics of the girls jumping!! Looks like tons of fun. It's usually so peaceful up there so you must have a great spot that plenty of people know about-I have a thought about how to keep people out but I'm afraid to say-lol!!!
Glad you had a great time with your family - that's the best :)
Posted by: Leslie | August 05, 2008 at 08:24 PM
Hey Laura,
New to your blog and just want you to know that it is a breath of fresh air!! I recognize your cute work from the magazines, and it is so fun to look at lots of your layouts in one place. Thanks for sharing your talents. I've found lots of ideas to get me back into scrapping.
Posted by: Robyn Longhurst | August 05, 2008 at 08:55 PM
How can you say those aren't great pics?? I LOVE them! THe girls jumping off the rocks? OMG!! My heart would be in my throat! It's great that they're brave like that. I'm a total wuss!
Looks like a fun trip. Ummm what would it take to get you to post a pic of you jumping off the rocks?? Starbucks??
Posted by: Sara | August 05, 2008 at 09:41 PM
Wow, great photo's. That smile in the first one.........lol. And the girls are very cool with jumping of those huge rocks. I'm not a grandma and I wouldn't do it.
Love your story, nice written.
Joke
Posted by: JokeBK | August 05, 2008 at 11:34 PM
Great pictures ---- oh my gosh do the girls look close to the rocks.
I love cards games (dice games as well). Rummy is one of my favorite games - love to play with my mom.
Posted by: Laura T. | August 06, 2008 at 05:53 AM
Laura,
It sounds like you had a great three days. Boy, that jump looks high! I am not sure I could do it either. The photos are awesome and I am sorry you got in a tangle with a bee. Glad you are back, I miss your blogging.
Love and God bless,
Shaun
Posted by: Shaun Paddock | August 06, 2008 at 07:25 AM
Hey Laura!
I am new to your blog as well. I agree with Robyn. Love the ideas!
I will be back often!
Posted by: Kim Rose | August 06, 2008 at 09:43 AM
very awesome pictures~that is one cool property! love the girls jumping off the rock cliffs-they sure are brave! I wouldn't dare do that, just float the river if it was waist high! I'm a wimp, when it comes to water! looks like you and your family had a great time!
Posted by: Alicia King | August 06, 2008 at 11:18 AM
that sounds like fun! i wish my family had some traditions like that! the rock jump pictures are awesome! and i'd be jsut like you...getting stung with only half my body in the water! :P
Posted by: Debbie Cook | August 06, 2008 at 04:37 PM
that looks super fun!!! if I'm there.. i'll be with you wading the water mid thigh.. LOL.. not a big jumper here :D
Posted by: Sasha Farina | August 06, 2008 at 08:55 PM
Fantastic pictures on the rocks, Laura! That is some amazing property. Looks like you had a great and adventuresome time. That is AWESOME that your mom jumps off those rocks!
Posted by: E | August 07, 2008 at 05:48 PM