Family Tradition

Since we were born (or maybe before) our family has been going to Beaver's Bend a minimum of once a year, usually two or three times. Pretty much any time we got out of school for any period of time, even if our parents couldn't go, Mema and Pepa would load us up in the van and we'd head for Broken Bow. That is one place where you're still in Oklahoma but it doesn't feel (or look) like Oklahoma! It's so pretty there and there are TONS of things to do. A couple of weeks ago we went with my parents, my sisters, and my nieces for a quick weekend trip. I didn't take a ton of pics but here's what I have (with a couple of REALLY unflattering ones of me that Nathan took w/out my knowledge conveniently omitted).

The cabin we stayed in had all king sized beds so Ains slept w/my sisters, Abbs slept w/my parents, and A-liv slept in the Pack'n Play in my parents' room. Here they are enjoying all the comforts of home...the Bernstein Bears on DVD.

We decided to hike (more like a short walk, or ride if you're A-liv) to "the swinging bridge". It's actually the beginning of a hiking trail and about 100 yards in, there's a river. There used to be a swinging bridge that crossed it but it kept washing out so they replaced it w/a concrete one. We still (and will forever) call it the swinging bridge. (As an aside, I was TERRIFIED of the swinging bridge when I was little. By the time I was old enough to appreciate/enjoy it, it was gone.)

Scott, Tess, Aud and Ains walking towards the bridge. I suspect the serious looks are because Ains has asked for only the 10th or 11th time "Are there any sharks or nice fish in that water?" and the adults in the group are reassuring her that there are not, all the while remembering the same exhibit that I saw at the aquarium - because they've all seen it too - and wondering if they're lying to the four-year-old.

And there's the....wait a minute. It appears that the permanent bridge is gone as well. If you look over to the left side of the pic, about a third of the way up, you'll see one of the piers (or what's left of it) that the bridge was built on. Unfortunately I didn't get it in the picture but if you could see even further on to the left, you'd see the other pier - in the middle of the river. I say bring back the swinging bridge! It's gotta be cheaper and easier to replace than a permanent one!

One important thing to note here is that this water is FRIGID. No, really, it's probably just above ICE on the thermometer. It comes straight from the bottom of the lake so it hasn't seen the sun in a while. Lucky for us, it was quite warm and humid that day so the water (after you get used to it) was quite enjoyable. Despite the reassurances of the adults, Ains didn't want any part of being in the water. She was quite content to stand at the edge and throw rocks which, it turns out, is an acceptable past time at this place. Abbs obviously was not so timid. She wanted her shorts off so she could really get in there and play. She was also throwing rocks, but from about thigh deep in the water. She LOVED it. A-liv took a little while but she finally decided the water was OK.

And finally, the obligatory "group photo" at the low water bridge. At least that's what Pepa called it. I have no idea what it really is. In case anyone is wondering where my brother-in-law is in this pic, no, he's not taking the picture, he's on a mission trip trying to save the youth of America. And trying to mend his broken heart after the passing of his all-time favorite artist...Michael Jackson.

Another funny note about this trip: the rest of the fam actually got to go down on Friday night. Nathan had to work on Friday so we went down afterwards but Friday morning Ains called me and we had the following conversation:

Ains: Do you know where we are?
Me: No, where are you?
Ains: We're at Beaver's Bend! And tonight we are gonna make a fire and put marshmallows on sticks and stick 'em in the fire and COOK 'EM!
Me: Wow! That sounds like fun! Did you know that we're going to be there tonight too?
Ains: Yeah. Nathan has to work all day. That won't be very much fun will it?

Wise beyond her years. Oh, also Scott (or "Cotts" as the girls call him) picked up a crawdad out of the creek. That led to the following conversation between Abbs and me:

Abbs: When I am a big girl I am going to pick up a crawdad like Cotts did. And we saw some fish but that tomorrow they will be frogs.
Me: Did you see some tadpoles?
Abbs: No, they were DADpoles.

Apparently "dadpoles" morph overnight.

Good times.