New River Gorge

There is something so relaxing about cooking over a campfire. 

Brent was really proud of this breakfast casserole we attempted. It turned out pretty good and was easy to make. 

I should also mention our friends introduced the kids to coffee every morning. As Joel exclaimed "my eyes are wide open" haha he has always been the one from the beginning who I've said will need a pot of coffee to wake up in the mornings.  

The week before we went our neighbors actually went to the same place we were Their trip had been scheduled the year before that they put off because of covid. They actually walked under the bridge strapped to the catwalk.  After seeing it in person we were more impressed. And it also confirmed that none of our family would even think of paying for that activity. ha! 

But they did mention this great hike with plenty of beautiful overlooks of the New River.  I think its called the Endless Wall Trail. We could see all the rafters coming through the rapids.  Norah wasn't old enough to go whitewater rafting. When she is old enough that will be the summer Colin will be heading off to college. The kids have already planned that future trip as a last hurrah before Colin leaves. But I have to say as that date gets closer and closer ODU is looking really good as a possible school for him. At least to his mother! For now I'm just grateful and enjoying this summer and that we have a teenager who loves hanging out with us. 

And take them in 3 years to go whitewater rafting down the New River. 

On the way home we stopped by the Sandstone Falls. 

Joel was telling Norah it was time to get back to the car. At that point he was worried about the 6 hour drive home and was missing his guinea pig. She was well taken care of while we were gone and he even got proof of life as we jokingly call it with pictures from our neighbor. 

Our  West Virginia baby. Wild and Wonderful.

Adventure park

We got to our cabin on a Monday night and had booked the waterpark tickets for Tuesday.  The kids wanted to be there right when it opened at 9am so we all set our alarms to get up and get breakfast cooking early enough. It was foggy and overcast at first but then ended up being a bright sunny day. 

The kids had so much fun. It was physically demanding to be able to pull yourself up onto these inflatables and then to just slip right back into the lake.  I've never felt more like a beached whale plopping down onto the obstacle courses but then also so strong when I made it to the top.  We were there until 5 when we went back to our cabin for a quick dinner and then back to the park for the rest of the night. 

The kids said  they felt like they were in that show Wipeout.

There was one point at the end of the night where Colin and Kady were racing on the obstacle course. Colin was in the lead but then slipped and fell into the lake.  Kady flew past him onto this big climbing pyramid. Colin came up out of that lake with a look of determination on his face that I've never seen. He was not going to let her win. 

He was right to be a little nervous. The lifeguard in me was a little nervous watching some of it. But he did all the courses and slides along with everyone else. 

 I'm pretty sure 7th grade Colin could not imagine going on a vacation with his English teacher and his family.  In fact when I mentioned having them them over for dinner at the end of the school year Colin looked at me and was like what? that would be so weird having my teacher at my house. I think we are beyond that weirdness  now and so very thankful for this friendship.