Aint No Mountain High...

Rainy Sunday. Aunt Elsie and Uncle Charlie are in town. What else are we going to do?

Rock Climbing of course!

We got suited up, harnessed up, and trained and then the two of you little mountain goats were off! You were brave and strong, wisely hesitant at times, and very supportive of all the climbers and rules.

You each took two turns climbing the 'big walls' and did a fantastic job!

Aunt Elsie even climbed up alongside both of you while Mommy or I 'belayed' you (managed the ropes keeping you safe!) while you did your ascents! 

Even Mommy and I got in on the action (and you guys were so supportive and cheered us on, gave us hugs and high-fives when we got down, and quickly learned the verbiage- "good climb!"

Look at those legs!

Then, we went into the bouldering room (aka "the cave") where you guys went climbing without safety ropes (but with a lot of safety hands). Even though this room was theoretically more dangerous, you guys were much more willing and able to climb here. Time after time you nailed and climbed very well!

What strength and bravery and skill... and fun!!! And you looked really cool doing it!

Day Camping



One recent, beautiful day, we decided to try our luck with camping by testing out all of the elements of camping- tent, nature, fire, eating, fun - without the one notriously more challenging elements- darkness and sleeping out in nature. In order to do this, we went Day Camping.

 Aunt Elise (of course, that Elsie- your Godmother, Julia) and Uncle Charlie were camping and did what we thought was all the hard work: tent-assembly, fire-making. We did what they thought was all the hard work: have kids, get kids dressed, bring kids to campsite.

And so, on the hills of the hosre of Lake Lavon, we all converged for a beautiful day of Day Camping!

Aidan, you were immediately fearful of the campfire- noting how you didn't want to go near it, because it could hurt you. But, then you were also immediately enamored with the tent, and decided that that  was the coolest place to be:

Julia, you too were weary of the campfire, and of course followed your bro into tent life, but note before you made yourself at home at the snack/picnic table!

As the day warmed up, so did you guys!

Uncle Charlie 'taught' you how to juggle oranges, Aidan. And Julia, you decied to venture out into nature.

We even were able to teach you both an important lesson about the campfire: there are safe fires, and ways to interact safely with fire. So...you both eventually warmed up to the fire!

Roasted marshmallows certainly helped a lot with that task.

Verdict: "You eat it, Daddy!"




So, campfire was good now. Roasted marshmallows weren't so much... But unroasted marshmallows made everything a lot more mellow.

Over the course of the afternoon, we went on adventures hiking through the park looking for bathrooms, playgrounds, cool views, and nature! Picking and smelling flowers, beeping walkie-talkies, dancing on table tops, and giving kisses were popular camp-site activities.



We also had fun poking ant piles and posing in the bluebonnet fields.

All in all, I think we succeeded in communing with nature. Day camping was a success! Next up... we'll have to try day + night camping...but with air conditioning: "glamping!"

The end!

The end!