Our baby is 21 days, no! 21 months, no! 21 YEARS!!!!!
I can't believe how fast it has gone by, he is officially an adult.
Riley is a brilliant young man, and extremely handsome to boot.
He is our first born and our first of numerous other experiences as parents.
Have we figured out parenthood? Nah, but we have gotten older.
Riley, we love you!!!
Of our 2 hikes Burro Wash was by far our favorite. It is an 8 mile route, cottonwood was 6.5 miles, but well worth it!
The route took us in and out of multiple canyons, slots and narrows. Due to the fact I forgot to charge my camera the night before, all the pictures you see are from my crappy cellphone( not a smartphone). I couldn't capture the height or depth of the walls that we climbed and squeezed through.
We encountered lots of lizards along the trail. There were several instances that as I placed my hands on the canyon walls, it was as if the lizards were crawling right out from underneath my fingers. At one choke stone we were scrambling to get over, I screamed! As Jason was friction climbing the wall, out from behind his back scrambled 20 or so spiders. I began to freak out until I realized that the spiders were just " daddy long legs!" I say just, but they were the biggest "daddy long legs that I have ever seen!
Just as with the hike the day before,we enjoyed solitude. Yet we discussed how much fun it would be to hike this route with our children. Not this time, just the two of us.
After completing our trek for the day we enjoyed a picnic lunch at the Capital Reef day use area. I ran into the historic Gifford house and bought goodies, yummy homemade peach salsa, for those at home managing our children. We then stopped in at the visitors center. I picked myself up a new hiking bandana, sporting the Capital Reef logo and petroglyph designs. I am excited to wear it next year for our celebratory hiking adventure! Oh, we also picked up a stuffed bat toy for Milo's coming birthday. Then back at the hotel for long dip in the pool. Solitude there also, not another soul but us.
All refreshed, off we went to dinner. We had noticed that a new steak house and bar had opened up in Torrey. I love Torrey, I keep telling my family I am going to retire there. Back to the new steak house. I ate the most delicious fish tacos and Jason had a bison burger. Don't forget dessert, a dark rich chipolte cake, OMG! I even talked Jason into a slow dance, well I actually dragged him to the dance floor. Great food and music topped off our adventure.
Our 22yrs together have gone by fast, almost a blur at times, full of happiness and challenges. No regrets though, I love my man more than ever. He amazes me. My love and commitment for him grows each day. I love you Jason, thank you for an amazing weekend together and for always loving me, despite my craziness.
I love my hiking buddy!
We stole away, to celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary, for some hiking in Capital Reef. Our planned hikes were Cottonwood Wash and Burro Wash on the east side of the park.
Starting our first hike with Cottonwood Wash, we headed out in the afternoon, 3pm, in high 80 degree temps The first 2 miles were miserably hot as we walked along a wide open wash bed before getting to the trail head.( note to self. Next car purchase needs to be a high clearance vehicle, we could have driven the long 2 miles.)
We were excited when we reached the fun challenging part of our adventure. The next several miles took us in and out of small canyons and slots. We enjoyed the solitude of our route. Not a single soul but us the entire hike. The route we took met us with various barriers to negotiate by climbing, hiking, friction climbing, crawling under one large choke stone, and a lot of sweat. The best part was the quiet alone time, we had to talk and bond along our way. Just as in our day to day lives, my awesome man was there to help and encourage through the tough parts. I so blessed to have him in my life.
After our trek back through the way we came the temperature had cooled for the long 2 mile walk through wash. What a fun and amazing hike. At our car we broke open the cooler and gobbled up some ice cold watermelon to hydrate us. We then drove to town and ate at the Rim Rock Inn restaurant, dirty sweaty and all. Good grub!
Look for more to come from our Burro Wash hike....
More often than not, I find the toilet paper roll empty. I ask, is it a hard task to replace it? I shouldn't even have to ask the question. The answer... uhm I shouldn't have to to address the issue. Should I ?
My views really differ from those of the opposite gender in our house. It must be GENETIC, thus relieving them of any conscious awareness of the matter. Genetic make up is also the reason I am bothered by the neglectful ness of the male gender in this regard. Women do not have the," slothful toilet paper roll gene." We do however have the, " know how things should be gene." I witness to you that it is purely genetic and that it only gets worse.
I find the roll empty, I replace it. But wait, I can't, there is not any more in the bathroom cabinet. Oh, what to do? Duh, go downstairs and get more rolls to replenish the supply. Simple and easy. Not only to stock the cabinet but actually put the new roll on the dispenser. Who would have thought of doing such a thing?
Now the male gender in my home, I must admit will get a new roll out, if there is one readily accessible. Where is the new roll placed? Most often found sitting on the back of the toilet. I find this frustrating. Why? I assure you that the next time this person uses the bathroom HE will not need to sit to use the facilities! Wait, maybe here is the answer. He has done his "duty," for the day. Not worried about looking for the toilet paper, because he'll just, pardon me, " shake it dry," next time.
The gals in the house on the other hand, will have to reach back behind to find the roll. It should be directly to the side, conveniently handy. I really find this bothersome, yes I am uptight. I know! I take medication for that disorder, apparently not enough. Notice I said disorder, by all means genetic in nature, but it can be treated. There isn't a drug that can change the genetic disposition of the,"slothful toilet paper roll gene." Sad, I know.
As I said, it only gets worse. If a new roll is found in the cabinet and not placed on the back of the toilet, it is frequently found sitting on the edge of the bathtub. Once again, not where it belongs. I admittedly acknowledged that I don't have to twist around to find the roll, it's directly in front of me, hidden behind the shower curtain and potentially soggy.
We have a tiny bathroom. One could be in the shower and if need be, take aim for relief without getting out of the shower, if you are a male. Us gals don't have that option, we scrape our elbows on the bathroom cabinet, where the additional toilet paper is found, and bang our knees on the bathtub. We women have it rough. Sadly, our bathroom down stairs is smaller. If one is sitting your knees will rest against the door when closed. This is the teenage sons toilet. Guess where the toilet paper is? Yes, back of the toilet. He is genetically inclined, not to put it on the edge of the shower, no tub here.
Back to the issue at hand. The other morning I had used the bathroom and the toilet paper needed to be replaced. The cabinet was empty as well. As I am leaving the bathroom one teenaged young man enters the bathroom, obviously not taking note of the empty roll. I proceed in my march downstairs to get the needed supplies, unawares to the young teen. My little princess was with me. I asked her to take the toilet paper upstairs to her brother( 3 ROLLS). She excitedly ran up stairs and placed the toilet paper rolls just outside the door. When the teen realized his predicament and open the door to holler for help, to his surprise he found just what he needed. A bit later he asks, "did you put the toilet paper outside the door?" "Yep, well your sister did. I asked her to put it there," I said. "Oh, thanks, when I noticed the roll was empty, I started stressing,"says he. Now, I wouldn't want anyone stressing in the bathroom. It can be very detrimental to ones well being! "ELVIS." A few minutes later I pass by the bathroom and notice... 2ROLLS of toilet paper sitting outside the door. I turn to the teen sitting on the couch playing 0 with his Ipod and ask," REALLY? I save your butt and you can't put the other rolls of toilet paper away?" "Uhh..., sorry," he says. I shake my head. I pick up the extra rolls and go into the bathroom and put them in the cabinet. Yes, I also took the new roll off the back of the toilet and put it on the dispenser. I am trying not to mumble too much, because the male gender in my home do have the," lift the seat up to pee gene." Well most of them. That is one thing their father has drilled into their heads, SO HAVE I! Sitting on a wet seat is the worst. Almost as bad as not having toilet paper readily available. I am thinking, by telling you this theory, I will be more accepting to the lack of the gene that says," Oh, I used up the last of the paper, I ought to replace it so that next person doesn't get stuck without." It is not pleasant to be stuck in the bathroom.
Do think my tactics will work?
NO! It is worth a try.
