The river

The river was great! A little stressful, but when you have a vacation with a 1 year old you kind of expect that.

We went with our IL's. MIL, FIL, SIL and SIL's Friend (SILF).

We usually rough it, that means tent sleeping, no bathrooms/running water. In exchange for the inconveniences you get a private cove where it looks like you are the only ones on the lake. It's great! Due to having a bottle feeding one year old we decided to stay at the hotel that is right on the river and day camp. Meaning you take the boat to a patch of secluded beach set up canopies and play until your hearts content and go back to the hotel when you feel like it.

This was our 1st attempt at beach camping, so we all thought it would be awesome to have the seclusion without all the set up. (anchoring the boat, setting up kitchen, setting up tents, anchoring things down so at night they don't blow away) It all sounded wonderful and probably would have been if a few things didn't go wrong.

1st, upon ariving at the river at 6am we found that DH left his wallet at the last gas station. Luckily it was only a 25 min drive back and forth. This got us off to a late start which means all the good coves were taken. So we end up on a beach that has no shade. No problem, we have canopies we say.

We set up in about 1/2 the time. We just tie the boat to a tree and throw up the tent shades. The thing that took the longest was setting up Nanie's area where she could nap.

All was going well, until a gust of wind blew Nanie's canopy over and broke it. (down canopy 1) It wouldn't have been bad but my MIL was passed out drunk (a rarity) and was in the way. Normally we would have caught it before it went over but passed out people don't have the fastest reflexes.

Anyway, we decide we are going to move canopy #2 over to Nanie's area and all hang out there. Gust of wind #2 nocks that canopy over and breaks it (down canopy #2). That means no shade. Not good for a 1year old. So we decide to pack it up and see if we can get into the hotel early.

The next day we decided to stay at the hotel and play in the water near the hotel. Not as secluded but WAY better then no shade day camp.

All and all the trip went well. Nanie came back with 2 more teeth :) She was a trooper. I don't think we'll be taking our next child so young to the river but defiantly when they are a bit older.