Ruben's Birthday and Camping

Loading up the car

This trip was a little different, we invited the Starr family to join us. Ruben and Rick rode in my car with me, Niijii Rick's dog stayed home for this trip.

The Starrs met us at the campground and got a site nearby.  Mom and Jeff joined us in our campsite the second night. We all shared a campfire and stories the first night we camped, and the second night I played ukelele and mom and I sang in harmony. Mostly CSN songs.

Ellie wanted to do an early morning swim, and Rick was a good sport and joined her. It was way to chilly for me to join in, and Ruben wasn't even awake. 

Grumpy much? 

Ruben does a good job of building fires, and he built this one all by himself. 

Lower trestle creek falls

Brice Creek

Sarah and Colin Starr in the boat, with Mikela Starr getting ready for some tubing.

Mikela

Rick

Colin

The next day we all hiked to Spirit Falls, AND Moon falls. Mom and Jeff, and the Starr family, Ruben with Rick and I. Some people swam in the cold cold water, but Ru and I decided to climb up on the rocks above the falls and look down. Ru and I had on our new hiking boots. He got his for his birthday a little early. 

A little bit of pretty water below Moon Falls.

My mom doing yoga and soaking up the negative ions (it's a good thing)

Colin and Sarah :)

Jeff and Mom

Sarah

Ellie

Me

For Ruben's birthday we celebrated with carrot cake and two types of ice cream. Colin went into town to get the cake and skipped a boat ride. Ruben's dad Jeff drove down and joined us from his place in Lebanon. 

Ruben got some great presents for his 17th birthday but the biggest and best of the gifts was a new bike! Mom and Jeff got him a fantastic Giant brand bike from a bike shop in Albany. It has 18 speeds and disc brakes. Since the country is going through a bike shortage it was awesome that they were able to find one at all. 

I bought Ru boots and a helmet (he thought the helmet was for me when we were shopping for one). Rick got him an awesome pocket knife, the Starr family got him a gaming computer mouse, and his dad brought him some gift cards and delicious chocolates.