We're on to day 11 of our Olympics, which means instead of celebrating continents, we're on to celebrating our countries we drew for the Olympics. Asa and New Zealand were up first!
But, we also had lots of events going on today. Since it's our weekend, we're back to some field trips! Our first event was for fun (no medals given out), although if you asked Calib it wasn't so much fun. But, at least he had a good attitude about it. We got up around 10, and headed out to the Chassahowitzka campgrounds to rent some canoes.
They give you a map of the river, some paddles, and some life jackets, and sent you on your way. Calib and Peyton paddled one, while Asa, Hayden, and I went in the second canoe.
Not far from the camp store, is a tree with a rope swing for your enjoyment.
We parked our canoes, and got out. The water is spring fed, so it's COLD, but on a hot day, it's a pretty nice way to cool off after paddling.
Asa and Calib climbed up the tree..
...And swung off the rope, and into the water.
But Hayden, Calib and I just watched from the shore. Hayden wanted to do it, but his direction following has been less than stellar lately, so that was a no go. Calib had no interest in it, and while I considered it, I ultimately chickened out (less because of the drop, and more because of the cold water).
We left the tree, and paddled a little more..
...stopping for lunch. We just threw some uncrustables, juice, and water in the cooler this morning, so it was nice just to be able to pull those out.
It wasn't hard to find a good place to dock our canoes along the river.
If you follow along the river past the rope swing, you'll come up to the Seven Sisters Springs. The water is clear, and lovely.
For the most part, it isn't deep. You can comfortably sit in it, and it only comes up to about your knees.
But there is a deep hole, where you can swim.
Now, only Asa did this (safety first!) but there is an underwater tunnel to swim through. You go down through one hole, and back up another. There's apparently a lot of different ones of these, but this one is big, and self explanatory (you aren't going to get lost or anything.)
Peyton would swim down to see Asa come through the tunnel though.
Calib, meanwhile, wanted nothing to do with the whole thing. First of all, he's more safety first than me, so the rope swing, the tunnel- it all made him nervous. Then there's the threat of a possible, maybe aligator sighting. It's really not something all that common there, but I have to be honest when they ask me about gators. (The answer is yes. If it's water, and it's in Florida, the possibility is there).
Add to that his fear of fish, and birds (of which there were many), and he was a nervous wreck. He just sat/stood in very shallow water and when we'd tell him to come out to sit with us, he'd smile and wave and be like 'I'm ok.'.
But everyone else is already asking when they can go back.
Calib did a really good job not complaining though, even though it was clear this was not his favorite activity. Gold medal for good attitude goes to him today.
We swam around in the spring for awhile, until Hayden's lips were starting to turn blue, and he was a little chattery.
We hoped back in our canoes, and paddled back toward the camp store.
Not all of the river is super clear, but we heard the rain has made it a little cloudier than normal.
It was easy paddling, and lots of fun. We took our canoes back to the dock, and headed home before the skies got too cloudy. (We had our usual midday downpour today).
When we got home, we held our first event: Weightlifting. Obviously, we have some different sizes in our family, so we can't just lift weights. But, we can make cookie weights!
It's a pretzel rod, some gummy lifesavers, and two keebler fudge striped cookies.
For our event, the first person to make two would be the winner.
Everyone made their first weight pretty easily.
But, then came the second weight. And Calib broke pretty much an entire package of cookies trying to put one weight together.
Meanwhile, slow and steady Peyton won the race.
But Hayden wasn't too far behind.
And Calib, well, he never did get that second one made.
Our weightlifting medalists. (Calib was embarrassed at his showing.)
After our event, the boys snacked on their weights while Asa gave his New Zealand presentation.
Our country bags don't contain near as much as the continent bags did, but we do have a few things from each country.
Isn't his New Zealand box cool? I helped him finish it off, since he does have to work and all.
For our New Zealand dinner we had a crustini with our pomegranate paste, creamed silverbeet, new Zealand dried apples, garlic butter baby potatoes and thyme crusted lamb chops, with bread pudding for dessert. I thought it was all awesome. The boys were mixed. It was Calib's least favorite meal all Olympics. (He just was not having a good Olympic day today- but still a great attitude!)
Oh, and Asa has been having themed drinks. Tonight he had a 40 winks.
After dinner, Calib and Hayden went outside to play some volleyball with an actual volleyball. But, it didn't last very long.
I suggested maybe, with Hayden's hand-eye coordination problems, they switch back to the beach ball. Calib obliged. But still spiked the ball on poor Hayden a whole lot.
Maddie stopped by, and then we all played for awhile. Hayden, Calib, and I won the first game, and Maddie and Asa took the second game.
Nobody was more happy to be outside than Miss Ellie. I don't think anyone is going to be more excited about their very own fenced in yard than Ellie.
We did have one more event today: Boxing! I picked up these guys on an Amazon Lightning Deal.
Asa and I played a play each other in a series of best 2 out of three. And I was the winner (fun fact: the red boxer almost always won).
So then, it was me and Hayden. I went on to play in the gold medal match, while Hayden played in the bronze medal match.
Calib and Peyton then matched up to see who would play me, and who would play Hayden.
Calib went on to beat Hayden for the bronze.
All that was left now, was the gold medal match.
And I finally got my first gold medal!
Our current leaderboard looks like this at the end of todays events.
Our countries medals from today aren't added into the total (I usually do that in the mornings when I know I won't get spoilers from my googling!), but yesterday Cuba finally got their first gold medal, just like Hayden.
Oh, and Hayden's trading card countries are doing pretty well too. Last night he got them all out to look at while we watched the Olympics. His Jamaican runners really cleaned up. And someone from Grenada won too!
In other, non Olympic related news, I finally got my cell phone case, and I love it.
Next Up: I'm SUPER excited about tomorrow's out of the house activity! But, I won't spoil it for you all. It's also Cuba day, so that will be fun!
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