On Saturday, July 21st we set out on an adventure with the Budge family. We went canoeing down the Salt Riveer. We had no idea what was in store for us as the evening rolled on...

We got to the head of the Salt River a little before 6pm. We figured it would give us just enough time to finish before it got dark. (Kalet had to work all day.)

We loaded up and set off and it was awesome for about the first twenty minutes. Then the kids were bored and wanted to go home. We stalled them with some snacks for a little while, but they really were done with the whole "adventure" and we couldn't do anything about it so they just whined. About an hour into the trip we hit some rough rapids and the Budge's canoe flipped. They have canoed for years and NEVER flipped so it was quite shocking to them (although having two little roudy boys in the canoe didn't help). Their cell phones, etc were soaked and everyone was a little frustrated. I was actually surprised with how well everyone handled it though.

About half-way down the river the monsoons (the first one of the season) hit and the wind was actually pushing us up stream! We were fighting so hard and finally Jay and Damien hopped into the river and pulled us downstream. That was really the funnest part.

We got to a point where the wind wasn't too bad and started paddling like mad to get to the end because the storm was coming and we were out there on the water like sitting ducks. Pretty soon the sun went down and that's when the kids started freaking out. Jayne and Rylan started praying that we wouldn't die. (Later on Jayne told my mom that we took them out there to try to kill them!) When we passed through the bull rush at Coon Bluff it was very erie. At the same time it was peaceful to float under the moonlight past the wild horses.

Cyannah fell aleep in the canoe. Rachel, who insisted on sitting up in the front with me and got soaked everytime we hit the rapids, fell asleep behind me sitting up and leaning her head into my backside crying.

When we finally reached our destination it was about 8:30 pm and the kids were so ready for bed! We found our way to the parking lot, but it was the wrong one so Damien and Jay had to run up stream to get the car. Damien and I went back up the highway about 12 miles to pick up his Tahoe and trailer. We were praying the whole time that the rangers wouldn't actually lock up the parking lot at sunset like they are suppose to. We were in luck!

As we pulled out of the parking lot the biggest monsoon storm I have ever seen hit and followed us all the way back to pick up Kalet, Jay, Rachel and sleeping Cyannah.

We had the time of our lives! Don't ask our kids about it though... they still don't believe that we actually thought we would all have a great time!

So excited to wear their pretty pink life jackets for the first time!

Cyannah, Dallin (cousin), and Rylan

So ready!