Saturday Centerville Waterfall Adventure

So it's 4th of July weekend and we really didn't have any plans. We unpacked and organized the garage yesterday (you can imagine how much fun the kids thought that was!) and relaxed. We thought it'd be fun to do something a little different today. Several days ago a friend of mine posted some awesome pictures and instructions on how to get to this little waterfall area in Centerville. It was only located about 15 minutes away and as per her info it seemed like the perfect hike for non-hikers with small children. We packed a lunch, sunscreened the kids and off we went. 

About 3 minutes into the hike I realized: either we are serious wimps or my friend and I have very different definitions of what's considered "fairly level ground." Keep in mind a majority of the 7 of us are in flip flops. Adrian is carrying Leah, I've got 20-lb squirmy baby in my arms and the rest of the kids are helping us carry water bottles, lunch, blanket, etc. we are going down steep hillsides with gravely dirt underfoot. Just as we get down we turn a sharp corner and there's another steep incline. I'm worried. Did we go the wrong way? I can hear the waterfall so I know we must be close! 

We turn the corner go down another steep hill and there it is- this gorgeous waterfall. Yes it's picturesque and the water is cool and refreshing. However this was not the place for a picnic! There are short banks on either side of the small river that are about 18" in width. We find the biggest spot and lay the blanket down. Everyone begins exploring and it takes about 30 second before a majority of the kids are either soaked or covered in dirt. Adam is done with being held however I'm not about to let him just have free reign crawling all over the mountainside. I'm trying to have fun but for every smiling picture I take of the kids I'm envisioning someone falling, getting bitten by a snake, slipping on a river rock, etc. At one point I looked around and thought, "there's no way Life Flight could make it back in here!" 

In all my worst-case-scenario day dreaming I've lost track of what Adam is doing as I hold him. I peer around and see he's happily sucking on a river rock. Awesome. Leah's shorts are caked in mud and a small movement to her side makes me zero in on a ginormous spider.  

When it's time to go back, Adrian puts Leah on his shoulders and puts Adam in a football hold. I bring up the rear, saying a quick prayer that we all make it back unscathed. Thomas and I take our time- flip flops are making us slow. He falls and slides a little ways down the hill side. I'm trying not to freak out as I pull him back up. He claims he can't carry the lunch bag so I strap it across my other shoulder. By the time we make it back to the car we all cheer like we've been gone for much, much longer than the 1 hr 15 minutes it's actually been. 

We will go back, I'm certain...in about 5 years. With tennis shoes and less baggage. 

Cheers everyone. I need a nap.