...the Stars are his Handywork too!

The next day was a big adventure for Jackie and me. We took a kind of challenge to tube down the river with Mike. We were the most terrified of the really cold water, but we decided to go for it! We quickly got over the water temperture, just in time for Jackie to fall out of her tube and smash her face into a boulder. Yikes. The water was moving too quickly for me to do anything about it but flag Mike over to her, but I then sent myself crashing into a tree so that I could wait to make sure they were ok. Mike got a scared (yet still funny) Jackie back up on her tube and back down the river. Mike kept convinced us that was the toughest part of the river, but both of us were a bit shaken and it was hard to believe him as I kept getting thrown toward more trees! We were very diligent in listening to his directions of staying left to avoid a large waterfall and then were really happy to see the bridge that meant Kay was waiting for us with towels and a ride home! We really did have a good time, the peace and the surroundings were amazing. We were the only ones out on the river, which just made it a really amazing experience. I am really glad we went, and I think Jackie would say the same (if you know her, you should really get her to tell you the story, it will have you laughing!)

Feeling the first chill of the water!
The three of us heading out - what a beautiful/scary ride!

After warming up and drying off, we had a great dinner and then cooked some smores!

Jillian enjoying the porch swing while we started the fire.
The big girls loved dancing on the deck
Jillian dug into the smores ingredients early!
Messy marshmallow girl
The Hooks kids being silly with their Daddy in the hammock
Our wonderful hosts enjoying a moment of peace surrounded by lots of fun kiddos!
Jackie's souvenir from the river - a black eye and bruised nose. And after watching it for another day or so, this actually looks really minor. Poor Jackie!

That night before bed, we kept the kids up a little late to see all of the beautiful stars. The sky is so clear there - you could see the definition of the Milky Way and more stars that I have ever seen. So beautiful!!