Kaya has been doing photography :)

We've been letting Kaya use the camera since she's bigger...and I honestly think the girl has the eye for it!! Sometimes her pictures make you think, or they catch you in some off beat way or...they are just pretty. THAT is exactly what photography is suppose to do!!! I hope she continues to explore this fun hobby. Both Steve and I love photography and it's nice to see Kaya getting into it as well!

Our first canoe trip...and probably our last lol

   Our cousin had called and asked if we would like our Christmas gift early and for the gift to be a couple's gift. I of course told her that we didn't expect anything at all and whatever she wanted to do was fine. Welllll seems she got us, her and her boyfriend, and three other couples together to go...canoeing.
   Being a gung-ho type person I'm usually up for anything and will give it a go, especially if it's something new and we are all together. Steve was a little hesitant at first but said "Lets do it".
   Remind you that every other canoe place around has closed down due to extremely low water. "Ohhh this place wouldn't book us if it was too low"...cousin's reasoning number 1. Also keep in mind that it's nice and cool today. "We won't sweat as much"...cousin's reasoning number 2. Furthermore keep in mind that none of us except one couple had ever actually canoed more than once, if at all, that we traveled about an hour to get there, the booking place basically said "pick a life jacket and sign the papers saying we are not responsible, get your oars"...."It's gonna be fun!! We'll float along, chat, picnic on our snacks and just have fun"....cousin reasoning number 3. Do we see a pattern here :)
   We pick everything out, load up in the small bus and the guy takes us to the river. Oh did I mention that more than once we are told "There are at least six spots severely low that may require you to carry your canoe. This is a physical journey for sure"...yeah do you see where this is going? Lol We all had packed snacks and drinks, bagged anything that needed to be kept from the water, and basically the canoe crew holds your canoe, you sit in it, they push you off and bye bye for the next 7 miles. Yes. 7 miles. Four hours. Let me repeat that...7 miles, 4 hours.
   We are total nature nuts, liked the people that was on the trip so we are still staying positive at this point. It's a balmy 60 with NO SUN on the river at all (none would show up till almost the 6 mile marker) and the water is 32 degrees. We all take off and there's lots of laughter and fun.
   Now mind you, you cannot jerk quickly in a canoe, you cannot lean over in a canoe and you both have to not only paddle well together you also have to coordinate any moves to prevent tipping over (cousin reasoning number 4: Canoes don't tip easy. Don't worry about it. Need I tell you that is LIES!! LOL). We are going along well when we feel ourselves tipping...Steve tries to save us but...lets say it did not work. From neck to toe we are soaked. But we continue on....
   We end up paddling our arms off, hitting tons of spots so low that we literally dug bottom. We carried our canoe (All 5 of us was in the same situation so it wasn't just us), we fell in the water. You name it. On the one flat, nice spot our cousin is singing Cmas carols ,lol, while another guy is saying "Really...if this is peaceful and fun, I missed the memo" LOL (Cousin reasoning number 5: It will be peaceful and tranquil. We'll destress and relax). I don't think I need to elaborate on the fact that it was not peaceful and easy going lol
   We hit the 6 mile marker and you can hear everyone's desperation....Steve literally screamed 911 help me as we went under the "Screaming bridge". lol The guys were looking for signs of civilization, we couldn't stop for a drink or a snack because we had to paddle so hard to just keep going, fighting the low water and rocks. Finally....heaven's light shines and....
  The boat dock is finally there!! We all happily hit the dock, pull our canoes up and surprise...only 2 people have dry clothes because Cousin Number 6 reasoning was "You won't need extra clothes, we shouldn't get wet". Yet again not true lol So after the 2 that had dry clothes change we head towards home for a late lunch.
   One guy had to wear his socks only in because his shoes were soaked. Our hair was all sticking out, we looked tired, damp and I know the ladies at the food counter thought OMG lol till we explained about our trip. We were all frozen so a hot lunch warmed us up.
  Finally at home the guys confess that the constantly wet butts combined with the seats (the guys sat in the back to doing the harder work) made for literally chapped butts LOL.
  It was a new adventure, one I might try with more water (much more water!), we had a great time laughing, being together and it was a nice gift and idea. But Steve has suggested to our cousin next year just get us a pizza gift card HAHAHAHA
UPDATE: The next day we were all so sore it was insane. Poor Steve could barely move!! The cold water locked up his leg muscles and about killed his legs. But...at least we were gung ho and gave it a try!!