Summer Vacay - Day 29: Boat Races

Yesterday we headed back up into the mountains for some more camping. This time it was with Ryan's family for a reunion. That means 14 kids all 7 years old and younger which equals lots of, um, energy. How to productively burn and direct all that energy? Boat races of course. Ryan separated the participating cousins into three different teams and got each team to pose for their official team picture:

Once teams were sorted out they were placed in their boats and off they went down the river. The three oldest boys were separated into a different team and each of these boys were pretty much the only ones that did much work. I will give credit to the 2 oldest girls of the bunch for the odd effort but the younger kids were solely along for a free ride.

Free ride or not I think most everyone enjoyed floating down the river, especially my three. Dad got in the boat with them and took them for a ride further down the river then they'd ever been before. Brayden took Madison for a ride while he was trying to teach himself how to master the paddles. He did alright and I think Ryan only had to go in after them once when he got tangled up in some roots. Sydney then had to have her own turn with the paddles which started out all right. It wasn't until she started picking up speed with the current and heading into deeper waters that realization dawned on her and she gave me the frantic looks that said "How do I steer this thing?" Thankfully she survived just fine and was ready to give it another try a few seconds later. However I was a party pooper and told her no because there was no way I was getting back in that freezing water to save her again. Next time we use paddles it will be in warmer waters!