Can't waste the good weather!

Summer is here! Maybe. Yesterday it was a scorching 70 degrees and we knew we had to get out and play, especially since I had to drive to Portland for a seminar on my last "day off". I needed some R & R. We borrowed a canoe from some friends at church, perched it on top of the car and drove the mile to Big Creek Reservoir.

We paddled the whole length of the reservoir. That's the part on this map with the names on it as well as the long tail going off to the right, then we paddled back. (Our house is straight down from the "+" and "-" and straight across from the word "Reservoir". Scroll to the left to see the ocean and eat your heart out.)

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Amazingly, everyone had fun and there was no crying the whole trip! We didn't see a lot of wildlife until the very end when a flock of geese flew over and landed fifty yards away (no pictures). The boys played in the water as we floated along, and McKay kept telling us that he saw fish jumping, or dancing, or whatever he felt like they should be doing at the time.We cleaned out the cobwebs before we got in and picked out the 5 snails living in the canoe, but somehow this guy stowed away until we were out on the water. The boys and I decided to name him Boris. Picture by Suzanne.The whole gang enjoyed the trip right up to the very end. This picture was taken on the last leg - our car is visible as a black speck on the shore. We stayed out on the water for a good hour, maybe an hour and a half. After returning the canoe, nobody was ready to go back inside, so we ate lunch and went back out to play. Big Creek Park is right at the end of our neighborhood and the boys got to run around until they got bored.McKay picked flowers, but not really for any purpose, so we stuck them in Carter's hat.
McKay thought that was weird.
Carter didn't mind at all.
The boys had fun at the park and it was a perfect day...

...except that I no longer had an excuse for not mowing the lawn.