River Trip 2012

We just returned from another successful year at my uncle's river house in Big River, CA. It is always so great to be there with our family and to spend the holiday's with them. Kieran couldn't come this year, he stayed home to work while Becca and I went with my family. It was great to be with my family but I sure did miss him so much! It was such a wonderful reunion to see him again.
We completed 3 floats (which are my favorite part) and only one did Becca not enjoy only because the current was so strong that she had to be thrown into the little raft we brought for her. Some of the family swam across the river and back with much effort. And of course we spent lots of time gathered around talking which truly reminds me how grateful I am to have such a wonderful family that likes to be together.
I hope that we can continue to have get togethers like this in the future, every year we have more and more people and it just becomes more wonderful! Thanks Scott and Debbie for inviting us!

 Look at that face! This was during a potty break on our way down.

 This is in the "Crow's Nest" that overlooks the river. My girl is such a cheese!

Becca's Birthday

The summer is already whizzing by. I can't believe that its already the middle of July; Becca turned 2, we went to the river, are preparing for our family reunion in 2 weeks and I only have 4 weeks of school left forever!
For Becca's birthday this year we decided to go the the Hogle Zoo and the Aquarium. We took my brother David with us to the zoo because it was his 18th birthday too. We really enjoyed having him with us and it was a fun seeing all the animals and going on the train. However, we felt we would enjoy it more when we have older kids who know more about animals, so I don't think we'll go back for a while.

We went to the Aquarium on Becca's actual birthday with my mother-in-law, aunt Lyn, and Lyn's family who is visiting from Scotland. It was so much fun and so much cooler than being outside at the zoo (so Kier enjoyed it much more). We touched a sting ray and star fish and saw penguins and otters, which was mine and Becca's favorite part by far. We also had a lovely picnic at a place up near the Aquarium before hand where we had cake and opened presents. I love being with my family and sharing these experiences with them!

 Linda's great-niece Caitlyn in the back there. She has become one of Becca's favorite people. We'll be sad to have her return home.

Do you see that penguin? They were swimming right next to us.

Then of course we came home and had cupcakes with our favorite friends the Denning's and Nance's. These 3 kids are always together but its so hard to get a good picture of all of them at the same time!