Last updated on November 17th, 2023 at 05:39 pm
I am all about traditions. If you ask Mr P, he will be the first to tell you I am always trying to start and keep traditions going. I think there is something so special about traditions.
One of my favorite traditions when I go back home is to float the Moyier River that runs right in front of my parents’ house. Not because of the obviously reasons like the beautiful scenery that you are surrounded by or the peacefulness of the float but for me it’s the people that I float with that make it so very special. It’s something we do every summer without a doubt more than a few times. 
This time was no different. I had three of my brothers, my two nephews, my two nieces and my husband to carry out this tradition. We gathered our inner tubes and we drove down the road to “put in” as we say, at the bridge. This way we float literally straight to my parents’ front doorstep.
Growing up in such an remote place wasn’t easy as a socialite teenager but as an adult you can sit and appreciate the true beauty of mother nature before you. It truly is a magical place. There was always one thing I never took for granted though as a child and a teenager back home and that was floating the river. I was just as in awe and grateful for it then as I am now. My friends and I used to do it on a regular basis. It’s not a fast river around July/August time so it’s a great time to catch up and relax while we float.
I was so excited when I introduce Mr P to the river and the act of floating in an inner tube. He wasn’t so convinced when I first told him what we were going to do but from the moment we first “put in” at the bridge, I knew he was hooked. He loves the great outdoors and putting his fear of a bear or moose coming after us, he settled right in.
My brothers were awesome too the first time we took Mr P they were so quick to make him feel welcome and safe by sneaking up on him underwater and throwing him overboard. Did I mention Mr P can’t swim either? Needless to say I was down stream, screaming up streaming at my giggling immature adult brothers to save my husband from drowning please. Mr P thought it was great to get initiated by my brothers and welcomed so nicely into the family. I was cross but only for a little bit as it has become over the years a great story to share amongst us. 
Our floats wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t stop off to blow back up one or two inner tubes that are leaking from the winter being stored in the garage, unchecked. Nor would it be the same if we didn’t take a break from cruising down stream to have a rock skipping contest and teach our kids how to skip rocks. A favorite pastime on the river I must add. My family is huge rocking skipping fans and extremely competitive so the two go hand in hand and Mr P fits right in with that. 
My three brothers attempting to blow the raft back up or shall I say the three stooges. lol
We all jump in a few times to cool off before setting back off after our hard rock skipping competition is over. I was quick to take a few selfies of me and my brothers and my niece who I can’t believe has grown up before my very eyes. I used to change her diapers and now we are hanging out more like friends than niece/aunt! I won’t even mention she is now taller than me at 16 years old!Yes, I know not very hard to do. And to take my nephews and younger niece with us too, whereas in the past they haven’t been old enough or big enough to come. It really is becoming a whole family affair. I can’t wait to one day take my own two kids with me down the river.
I am so grateful to be so close to my family and to have such great traditions to experience with them. 
There was so many amazing adventures we went on in the states but floating the Moyie River with my family is one I will cherish forever, remember forever and try to make happen, each year, forever!
I love you all so much and you all make my life complete.
So I say goodbye to my family, friends, cultures, home, and this beautiful place for now, but not for long as we will be back next summer. Ready to experience new things and replay out our traditions with the ones we love.
Aww, gorgeous post Jenny! This looks like such fun! We do a similar thing in a lake nearby – normally behind a boat though! 🙂 I love hearing about your Summer! Xx
Thanks hunny I have many many more adventures to still share that I didn’t have the chance to while still in America. I hope I haven’t bored everyone to death with them all. I am so homesick. I miss it so much. Sounds like I need to live closer to you! FUN!
Ah this is lovely Jenny! You’ve just brought back memories to me of ‘toobing’ on the Guadalupe River near Gruene and New Braunfels in Texas when I studied at UT for a year back in the mid 90s. I loved that place and that experience! I can totally understand how that would be a totally awesome family tradition. Xx
Thanks Sam. Texas wow ! You know exactly what I mean then. It’s a great memory to have.
Aw Jenny this looks amazing and you can tell that it means so much to you. What a fab tradition, it looks so beautiful there. It’s lovely that you get to share it with Mr P, and hopefully your two too when they are older 🙂
Thank you so much. I know I can’t wait to take my two when they are older. Although much older. I am a paranoid freak near rapids with kids. Hahaha especially my own.
How fun! I haven’t floated the river in forever!!! I miss it…I will definitely have to do that next summer 🙂
Yes you should. It’s so relaxing and peaceful. I always forget about it until I get home and it’s one of the first things I want to do!
Just WOW. What an amazing place to grow up!!! I laugh when I think of the little stream near my childhood home!! I’m loving all your photos from the summer, you really did have a wonderful time, and what memories for the kids! x x
Thanks hun. Yes the kids have found memories already and I am so grateful for our trips every summer back home. They now experience the childhood I had every summer and my old memories of all the same places are now their memories which is so very special to me.
That looks such fun! How lovely that you can still spend lots of time with your family even though you now live so far away.
Thank you Sarah. Yes I am very grateful we get to spend every summer in America with all my family. We really wanted our kids to experience and live both cultures and both sides of the family.
What a fun tradition and what a beautiful place to grow up too. How lovely to do something like that as a family 🙂
Thank you Louise. Yes I am very truly grateful that visiting my parents has so many beautiful vacation perks! I am missing it so much already!
Lovely post sweetie and what a fabulous tradition! Hope you aren’t too homesick now you’re back…
It’s been tough I am not going to lie but thank you we are settling back in and getting back to our normal routines. I still can’t wait until next summer. Roll on June! lol
Aw, that looks like so much fun! What a beautiful spot, and how lucky you are to be able to go back each year and enjoy it. One day your little ones will be able to join in the tradition with you – now that’s exciting! Gorgeous photos lovely xx
Thank you so much. I know I am so very excited for when they can come too. That will be amazing. Although I am also so very paranoid with kids on the water rapids even though they are slow for most of it. lol It is always a great time in the summer there and family is always popping in and out. I wish I had that here.
Wow, looks you had the most amazing time! Making memories (and beautiful pictures) that will last a lifetime. #Share WithMe
Thank you! I certainly hope so and I know each summer will be just as amazing if not more as the kids grow older and we can do even more adventures stuff together as a family.
Looks like you had a fab time, lovely! That photo of the river and the trees is absolutely breath-taking. Your parents live in such a beautiful area. xxx
Thanks Mel. They really do. I am very grateful for that. Makes using all our holidays up to see them worth every penny and moment for sure. Bonus vacay spot all in one.
That’s such a beautiful place! It must have been wonderful growing up with nature in your backyard. Outings like these are all the more fun with the family goofing around!
So true. Thanks hun. It truly is a beautiful place. We are so lucky and grateful. My siblings and I are always having more fun messing around being big silly adult kids. lol
Gorgeous sunny shots! Sounds like a fab tradition! 🙂
Thanks Sian. It really is and there is nothing better than hanging out with my siblings too! Love it.
This brings back great memories. We lived in the US for three months when my husband had an internship and we went up to Idaho and floated the river with friends – so fun!
That’s awesome Rebecca. It’s a great place to be one with nature out there. Glad you got to experience it and have your own great memories. So beautiful.
This looks like great fun. It is great to have a tradition that you can carry on with your children when they are older x
Yes I think so too, especially emotional when my childhood memories start to become apart of their childhood memories.
Wow, looks like a perfect afternoon was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Fabulous pictures as always.
Have only done this at a theme park and spent the entire afternoon chasing after both (much younger) daughters & pretending to be a shark! I so need to try this out…
Hahaha I love it. Oh I can’t wait until my two are old enough for the theme parks we have a few near where my parents live. It will make the summers even more fun! So many adventures to be had.
Oh that looks like so much fun – and such a great annual tradition too. I love it when you can carry over into adulthood the things that were special in childhood – for us it’s swimming in the sea before breakfast and then bacon butties on the beach – bliss!
That sounds truly blissful too wow! Nothing beats a tradition with a beach or water! lol Yes I can’t wait until next summer already!
What a lovely tradition, and a beautiful post. I have loved reading about your summer and your wonderful family. Such special times x
Thank you so much Sara. It was magical to say the least. I love going home and catching up properly with everyone. Hard to say goodbye but I look forward to next summer already.
Awww I love traditions too and this is a pretty fab/fun tradition to keep doing! Such lovely photos 🙂 x
Ahhh thank you so much hunny for your lovely comment and for stopping by. I hope to see more of you. Thank for the guidance and motivation on the vlogging too! You rock! I love a good tradition. Something so special about them.
Ah Jenny that looks blissful! Very relaxing and a great family tradition! I am sure your two will love it when they get older too! Xx
I know I can’t wait to take them. Thanks hunny. It was the best summer ever and I foresee it only getting better and better each year as the kids get older!
Wow!! What a fab post. Really beautiful and what a fab family tradition – this is something I could so see my family doing too #sharewithme
Thanks hunny. We love the great outdoors and being adventures. That’s one of the best things about us siblings we do it all together. Great memories.
Lucas says – AWESOME!!!!! I would be soooo cool at this – I love it!!! Dad did rock skimming on holiday and he got to three but that was in the sea. I so want to ‘put in’ as you called it – MEGA High-5’s 🙂 #sharewithme
Thanks dude. Yes skimming as u say is fun!!! Mr P can do 6 in a row can u believe.
Hello there, this is such a fantastic blog and what amazing photos! It just looks wonderful. I have joined your linky this week for the first time, and am just sorting out widgets/links on my blog so please bear with me! Looking forward to reading more. xxx
Welcome to Share With Me. Thanks for joining in!! I hope you like reading fab blog posts all in one place. Of course don’t worry at all. Just have a look a round and enjoy the link up. Hope to see you again and look forward to your posts.
What stunning photos, it looks – and sounds – so beautiful there Jenny 🙂 #ShareWithMe xx
It really is. It’s one of those places you take for granted when you are a child but as an adult is absolutely breathe taking.
That looks really fun! A great activity for so many of you to enjoy!
It really is. There are some fast parts and some slow parts so it’s great to experience both on the river!
Jenny, this looks so much fun, your home is beautiful. I couldn’t help having a giggle at your brothers tipping Mr P in! xx
Don’t you worry I had a HUGE giggle when they did it at first too! So funny but that only means they love and accepted him into the family. That’s all I ever wanted. lol Thank you for your lovely comment.
Lovely picts and what a fabulous place to grow up. I love setting traditions too – and now your children can do the same and so forth. Beautiful…makes me wish for some sunshine now! x #sharewithme
Sorry I tried to bring some back with me but it didn’t get through customs. lol It truly is a fantastic place to be as a child and I am blessed my children will be there in the summers to experience it too!
I am seriously jealous! This looks like so much fun! I remember great days of doing this when I travelled in Laos and would love to do it again. It is so peaceful and relaxing!
It really is. I love a calm river float not a huge fan of the white water rapids type. lol Glad you have experienced it too. Thanks for the lovely comment.
What a great tradition and looks lie so much fun. It is great that Mr P got to experience things from your childhood x
Thank you so much. I know I always get excited about sharing my childhood and usa life with him.
Ah I never tire of your amazing stories Jennie – sounds (and looks) absolutely incredible! What a great tradition and I’m sure Mr P enjoyed his initiation! x
Hahah I think he enjoyed it afterwards, after being accepted. lol Thank you glad I am not boring you all still with it all. Many more to come! lol
Wow this looks like SUCH FUN and so relaxing at the same time!!! I love those lazy rivers you get at swimming pools but this is just the next level. 🙂 xx
Oh me too! I was just talking about lazy rivers the other day would love to take my kids to one of them. You are right its the next level for sure. Thanks for the lovely comment.
What a great day and a lovely tradition, sounds like you had a really great time.
Ahhh thank you so much, we really did. I love anything with my siblings and extended family, making memories and the most out of life -all together!