Here we go again

Connors last day of extended school year was on Monday, June 29th. Since swim lessons are over, we were all able to go to the free movie day. Since we had so much fun last year, we decided to go tubing in Helen on Friday since the men had a day off because the 4th was on a Saturday. We had a bigger group go this year. We started out early. We wanted to get there as close to opening time as possible because being a holiday weekend we figured it would be crowded. This year the Tady's, Bugee's (minus Morgan because she has summer schedule at BYU-Idaho and Taylor because she was in Provo, Utah for EFY and Basketball camp), Edward's, and a friend of Christa's and her kids.

Most of the tubing group minus Christa's friends and Christa and Preston

This year we were able to do the longer route since we have had a good amount of rain fall lately. I went with Hayden on my lap. Brenton went by himself and the other kids were tethered to an adult. It took us about 1 1/2 hours to float down the river. It was very relaxing. When we got out of our tubes at the rental place, we took one look at the line and it was crazy long. It was a real hot day mid 90s. We were so glad we went first thing with no wait to pay, get your life jackets and tubes, and wait for a bus to take you up stream. After tubing, we ate some lunch and some headed off to Cheri's house while the others went to the main part of Helen to grab some fudge and look at a few of the cute shops. Then we all headed over to Cheri's house to celebrate Olivia's 9th birthday. We had dinner over there followed by watching their neighborhoods fireworks. Not sure why they were doing it a day early but it was fun. We got home way late and we were all exhausted.

To Helen Back

On Saturday June 7 , 2008, we went to Helen, Georgia. My parents, Morgan, Taylor, and the Tadys also went. Helen is just over an hours drive north of our house. We met early in the morning to head up there. At about 10:00 am, we started the day tubing down the Chattahoochee river. Helen has a few places to rent tubes. Then the place drives you in a bus up stream and then you float down the river back to the tube rental place. They had 2 different drop off spots one was tubing for 3 hours and you would have to get out of your tube a couple times because the water is so low in a couple places or the 1 1/2 hour one and you wouldn't have to get out of you tube and walk (the only time you would need to get out of your tube is if you got hung up on a rock and usually you could wiggle your way off without getting out). Because we had 10 kids (11 and under) with us we chose the shorter one. Each person had their own tube except for Hayden and Eliza they are only 2 so they sat on laps. Brenton and Lincoln were the only 2 kids that went on their own. The other kids were tethered to an adult (and Taylor she is 15). My dad was the only one who didn't have someone tethered to them so he stayed by Lincoln. Everyone had a great time. I only wish I could have taken my camera to get some shots on the water. Oh well, here is a few shots of us before we started tubing.

Jon, Hayden, Talmage, Kennedy, Brenton, Taylor, Lorin, Morgan, Payton, Sonoma, Aaron, Eliza, Christa, Lincoln, Dad, Gretta (mom was taking the picture)

Lorin and Talmage

Taylor and Morgan

Once we were done tubing, we ate lunch. We all brought our lunch and ate it at the place we rented the tubes because they had lots of picnic tables set up by the river. After that we walked to town. Helen is a small German town. They have a main street with all their little shops and restaurants. They also have really good fudge (not as good as Mackinaw Island Fudge but good enough for me). Which is why we went to town. This weekend was extra loud and busy in Helen. They were having some sort of Motorcycle gathering.

Connor covering his ears from the loud motorcycles

Talmage, Hayden, Jon, and Sonoma checking out the horse carriage

Talmage checking out the water fountain

Then The Tady's and Bugee's left for home. We stayed (Taylor stayed with us too) and went to the beach.

Talmage and Hayden

Brenton

Kennedy

Talmage filling his shirt with sand

Payton

We all had a great time. The kids as well as the adults can't wait to go back.