River Fun

There is a creek (but we call it a river) just down our road a bit.  Its water comes from the rain in the winter and from snow melt in spring and summer.  By late July, the river is completely dry.

The kids and I walk down there sometimes to play.  We throw sticks, rocks, and anything we can find into the water and guess if it will float or sink.  We never plan on getting wet (at least when I take the kids by myself), but it never fails that someone walks home completely soaked or at least with soggy shoes.  In late summer, we walk in the dry riverbed to find blackberries.

One summer day after a hot morning working in the garden (if my memory serves me), we took the kids to swim in the river.  The water temperature was perfect.  I'm usually a wimp for cold water, but on this day it was just right.

I called Grammy and suggested that she and Grandpa come join us.  I knew they had been working in the sun all day and deserved a nice relaxing break too.  I was pleasantly surprised when they showed up! Grammy even had swimming clothes on, but she opted to be photographer instead.

Eliza got on a big rock to jump in, but she disturbed a bunch of ants which proceeded to bite her legs and feet all over.

Mike washed the ants off and the rock became a fun jumping spot for all the kiddos.

Even Joshy wanted to jump like the big kids.

We had a fun family splash fight full of giggles and squeals (mostly by me).  What a relaxing, carefree Saturday activity.

It's fun to have water to play in so close.  It's dry now, but in a month or so it should be flowing again.