Sunday Family Day: Salmon River Falls

Salmon River Falls
Last Sunday, we had planned to go to the Rochester zoo, but Miss Abbey had been up the night before, obviously not feeling well.  In the morning when she woke up, she didn't even want to get out of bed, instead preferring to have me hold her hand.  I have never seen her like that.  Of course, we cancelled our plans.  A few hours later, Abbey seemed fine and was laughing and playing like normal.  We knew a trip like we had planned was not a good idea, in case she started feeling badly again, but we wanted to get them out of the house.  We decided to head to Salmon River Falls in Richland.  We had gone a couple of years ago and it was a really nice little walk with a view.  It was a little busy, but not to bad.  We started walking the trail and the kids just loved this first glimpse.  I love this photo of them.

Almost got Abbey to look at the camera.

Heading down the trail, Adam kept taking off ahead of us.  But Adam listens when we tell him to stop and doesn't go too far, unlike Miss Abbey!

Corralled against her will...forced to hold hands!  But she loves her Daddy.

I let Daddy think he's in charge.

This was such a cute moment...Adam saw the trail with all the trees ahead and said "WOW! Trees!"  He just kept looking up.  So cute.  I love the outdoors, too.  And the woods.

Can you see the wonder in his eyes?

Abbey wild and free.

Another lookout...Adam showing me the falls.  "Bath, Mom! Shower, Mom!"  Todd told him it was  Paradise Falls from Up.  Adam said "Waterfall!".  Don't think he was buying it.

So there's a stairway build into a hill that takes you to the water on top of the waterfall.  This is where we're at now.  At first, all was fine.  The kids were excited.

Abbey broke free and we watched, thinking foolishly that she'd stop.

Innocent little girl wading in the water, right?  Then she goes for the gold.

She TOOK OFF.  Like, scary took off.  At least she was the opposite direction of the waterfall, but I started to panic.  Todd took his shoes off and went after her. 

It was time for me to put my camera away.  Todd had to chase her, even after she kept falling.  She did NOT care.  She turned and headed towards the waterfall and I was scared though it was pretty far off.  Todd got her and we put he on a rock for timeout and she had a total meltdown.  Whatever ailed her in the morning was not gone.  I could see the future.  When she has a meltdown normally, she usually gives up in a bit when she realizes she won't get what she want.  She wasn't going to, which happens if she doesn't feel well or is very tired.  Mustering all my muscles, I carried her up that hill in two minutes flat while I told Todd to stay with Adam.  (Before all those months on the exercise bike, something I would NOT have been able to do.)


Meanwhile, Adam is doing so well.  He wades in a bit when Abbey does, but stops to take off his shoes.  He clearly didn't want muddy shoes, which is so Adam.  He stayed right with me while his sister ran wild and free and when she had a meltdown, he ignored it, clearly used to it.


When we got to the top of the hill, I started walking Abbey and she calmed down a bit.  When I started to walk her back towards the car, she was done.  I gave her a snack and some water, but nothing worked.  Todd and Adam made their way up and he offered to take her, but I told him there was no reason for both of us to to be covered in mud and silt.  At first, of course, I was frustrated.  But as we walked back and she didn't give up, I felt bad for her.  Obviously, she didn't feel well.  She would cry for me to pick her up, then cry for me to put her down.  When we go to the car, I changed her clothes and put her in her seat.  She relaxed some.  And the car always helps her calm down.


It is a beautiful place and Adam had a blast.  I love going there, but I did get some nightmarish images of my daughter plummeting off a waterfall.  We decided that we had learned a lesson that day.  If Abbey is sick in the morning, she is probably still sick later, even if she doesn't show it!  At least we were smart enough, I mused, not to take her all the way to Rochester!  And yes, we skipped lunch out, getting the kids Happy Meals.  Then we really knew she was sick...she didn't eat one french fry.  Poor kid.