Kettle River Trip, July, 2009

Our big camping trip this year was again to the Kettle River, although this time we found the best spot EVER. It was free and right beside the river. No packing up beach stuff and hiking from camp to the river. Also, it was close to where Raph hunts every year in November so he was able to do some scouting and take the kids on quad rides - which is one of their most favourite activities. Here are some pics from the trip ... Faith was practicing her quad driving skills.

This is the main reason I love camping at the Kettle River - hot sun and lounging in the water. Next year I will purchase a better floaty that has a drink holder!

It was Declan's 7th Birthday while we were away so I packed cupcakes for everyone. He waited for a long time to turn 7. All his friends' birthdays are at least 4 months earlier and so it becomes a long wait for his turn!

Our Maggie. Her and Buck (didn't get a picture of him this time) had a whole bunch of kids to throw the buoy for them in the water - hours of fun!

We bagged Gabe's cast for about the first 2 days and then I couldn't stand the smell anymore so I just let him get it wet. Needless to say when we got home to get the cast off there was a bunch of sand in it!

In Declan's hand is a little lizard I found floating in the water. They made a home for it in a bin for about a day and then let it go. Notice Blake making arm farts - this is apparently a right of passage for 7 year olds and a noise that we heard from Declan all the way up to Rock Creek (yes, it is a 6 hour drive). And when he wasn't making the noise his hand was in his armpit ready to make the noise at any given time!

I am standing in camp taking a picture of the beach. It was the best spot EVER. There was also a back eddy in the river at this spot so you would just float around in circles for hours.

This is our trailer and the men playing horseshoes. The only downside was the amount of horseflies, wasps and mosquitos - but then it just gave Raph something to do - the death count was quite high!

This is Amanda Deakin, Gabe's future wife possibly ... or at least it seemed to be heading in that direction ...

Our beautiful Faith.

It got a little hot in the trailer.

The bed that Faith and Declan are in was made by Raph to accommodate all 3 kids but the Gaber can be a bit of a wild card so after 2 nights he got his own bed.

The Gaber with his ladies - Kate and Amanda.