Life on the Umpqua (09 version)

We just got back from our annual weekend on the Umpqua River. We went, we saw, we swam, we ate. What else is there?! Oh yeah, we slept in a tent, too. And saw slugs. Ick. But even I can't complain too much about this year's camping experience because praise the lord, it was hot, hot, HOT during the days, which meant that I did not get cold, cold, COLD at night! Yahoo!

The kids were in heaven. Grayson couldn't get enough of the river and playing with the big kids, and Molly never tired of talking. To anyone who would listen. Anyone. And of course, by the end, we were exhausted and filthy, but even I wouldn't trade the weekend for anything. Being with my family and my 94 year-old grandpa in the one place that has been familiar to me since, well, forever--that's a priceless experience that never gets old. (Okay, actually in all honestly, there was that one summer that I tried camping alone with my 2 children that it did get a little old, and maybe, just maybe I would have traded it all that weekend...ha! ha!) So often throughout the weekend I found myself remembering the Umpqua experience the way it used to be for me when I was little--A LOT has changed. And while there are things and people that I definitely miss, I'm just so happy that the traditions continue and that there's still this place--this tiny bit of heaven on earth, if you ask the Spencer family--that MY kids get to experience now each summer. And it's cool and comforting to think that one day down the road, a few of our experiences will overlap, mine and theirs. Rock jumping, catching crawdads, the swimming hole, floating the river from Mac Brown park...thankfully some things never change.

Poor Jenna. She got skunked. Eeeewwwww.

This boy would have slept in the river if we would have let him.

But when we did get him out of the water, he loved playing games with his cousins...

...even when he was so tired that he could barely keep his eyes open.

And this girl...still chattin' away! And eating cake to celebrate my brother's recent marriage to Aunt Rebecca. (What?! Did I forget to mention a family wedding?!! Nope, they eloped. Hee hee.)

Here's Miss Mols doing the "Cheetos Dance" with Cousin Tom--her partner in crime as they snuck Cheetos together all night long.

Anyone who will share her Cheetos passion is definitely a friend for life! :)

She has a way of getting almost anyone to play with her. Thanks, Cousin Malia! :)

But the BIG event of the weekend--which I didn't but now DO have pictures of thanks to my cousin Cindy (!!!)--was the annual river float. It was big for our family this year because both Grayson AND Molly floated! Like thru "rapids"! (Though I do use the term "rapids" rather loosely.) And G was only slightly traumatized when he and Dave dumped out of their tube during the first set. But after a quick recovery, both kids loved the experience and spent most of the afternoon out of the tubes and simply letting the current carry them down the river in their life jackets. 2 little fish they are!

And at the end of the weekend, how do you know if you saw enough, swam enough, ate enough?...