the one, part two

Just look at those rushing rapids...did I think my kids were going to fall in? Yes. But sometimes you just have to feel the fear and do it anyway.


The scenery is really amazing here. I love the reflection of the rocks in this picture.


And these rocks look like they're holding back the river.


Sometimes, JP and the kids looked like they were walking on water...


...but they weren't. I took this picture about a minute after giving out the standard warning, "Watch out for the algae on the rocks because it could be slippery."

Here, Joaquin is talking to a giant turtle.


It was quite a feat to get any of these shots. I had Diego wrapped around me in the sling, my Canon with the zoom lens around my neck, and the point and shoot I let Isabela borrow dangling from my wrist. Diego kept pushing the camera out of the way when I would put it up to my eye. I appeased him for a good while with a bag of goldfish crackers I wedged down into the sling, but that only lasted so long.


After Daddy slipped on the rocks, there was really no reason to try and stay dry.



The kids could have stayed out here forever. But Diego got pretty heavy, so I eventually let him down. He was content to walk back and forth on the gravel path.

And we checked out the wildlife.

I finally coaxed them up out of the river by telling them Diego and I had found something else interesting...it was the old rock quarry...and it had a climbing wall of sheer rock. We convinced Joaquin it was too dangerous to do without gear, then some idiot guy came along and climbed right up to the top with nothing.

Two kayakers were going down the rapids as we headed home. So cool.

And we headed back across the bridge with great memories and a satisfied smile on our faces.

Did I mention that is one cool bridge?

I do have the mom death grip on Diego's wrist right here. But he walked the whole thing like the energizer bunny.

Wait...is that someone falling off the bridge? No, they're jumping. I'm just glad it wasn't one of us.

the one

There's always one trip or one event that happens each summer... and you think...."This is the one. This is the one they are going to remember for the rest of their lives. The one they'll tell stories about beginning with ...'remember when we...' "

And last week we took that trip.


It was spontaneous as usual. The tentative plan was to go to the mountains after JP got home from work at noon. But we were all kind of tired by then and weren't up for the drive. So 'the river' popped into our heads again. We went down there one time, but it wasn't the right place. We were looking for where you can hop across rocks, wade in to your waist, and watch the rapids whiz by. You'd think after living here my most of my life, I'd know where it was...but I didn't.


So we ended up here. Let me first say....this is not the right place. But you couldn't tell by the smiles on all our faces as we raced up this super cool walkway. We just knew that there was a river full of rocks for us to jump on just waiting on the other side of this huge wall. (It was the flood wall, by the way.)


So we get to the top...and there's a great view of the city...but no way down. (And as I'm gazing down, I don't see any hopping rocks either.)


This is what we saw. And some blankets drying underneath the bridge. The kids thought scientists were doing some kind of experiment with them. I suggested they might belong to someone who had no home, but they couldn't understand that.


So we got back in the car, a little disappointed, trying to formulate a new plan. As we're driving, doing our best to avoid an argument as to where to go, I see some signs for Belle Isle. So that's our new plan.

Now THIS is a bridge to cross.

Unbelievable.

A foot bridge right under the car bridge. You get amazing views of the river and city...


... a gentle breeze, and a little bouncy motion every now and then that makes you VERY uneasy, but it's definitely worth it.


Here we've reached the other side of the river. If we only had gotten this far, it would have been worth it. A helicopter flew by why we were on the bridge, a summer camp of about 40 kids were SWIMMING across the river so we stopped to watch them from above, and there were numerous bikers and dog walkers crossing that were extra entertainment for Diego.


But check back for the next part of the trip. That's where it gets good.

he's growing

It doesn't matter how tight you squeeze them when you hug them. It doesn't matter how long you keep them in their onesies that are three months too small. They are still going to grow...and they have the nerve to do it right before your eyes.

I see a toddler in these pictures that I haven't seen before. He's got that twinkle in his eyes...besides a mouthful of cookies.


He's doing it himself. He's got opinions, likes, and dislikes. And I melt in his hands.


He has a sense of humor and knows what will make us smile...like this precious face he makes just before I press the shutter.


He's got arms that reach further up our highest tables. He's snuggling with us on the sofa, but this time he's climbed up there himself.


He's our resident one year old that's reminding us how yummy life is...that we don't need to worry how messy life gets when you're tasting and enjoying every morsel.


Oh, and here's the recipe to those delicious cookies he's smeared all over his face:

Cowboy Cookies In A Jar (or just skip the jar part like we did)
Ingredients

1 1/3 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Layer the ingredients in a 1 quart jar in the order given. Press each layer firmly in place before adding the next layer.
Include a card with the following instructions: Cowboy Cookie Mix in a Jar 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. 2. In a medium bowl, mix together 1/2 cup melted butter or margarine, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Stir in the entire contents of the jar. You may need to use your hands to finish mixing. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. 3. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes in the preheated oven. Transfer from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

On the third day...

...he chose the tire store.

outside fun

on his own

We headed back to the gym today with a new attitude and a new plan. I was ready to sacrifice my entire morning, three hours, and sit there with squirmy little Diego, if it would give Joaquin the confidence to be a part of his group. My thinking was that he would see how much fun it was and would realize he didn't need me there.

And it worked! It took about five minutes before he would go out on the mats, but right away he was smiling and jumping and tumbling with the other boys.

He'd look back every now and then and wave with a big smile on his face. I know he was enjoying himself and that made me happy....but I was headed toward miserable. First of all, those gyms never have air condition... just these big fans blowing hot air around and garage doors opened to the outside. Plus, Diego needed his morning nap and was hot and tired and becoming restless.

After an hour, I motioned to Joaquin that I was thinking of going. He was hesitant at first, but I told him Diego was tired and I'd come back a little early to watch him. And he was okay with it, so I left.

I found out from his coach later that he got a little upset after I had left, but when I came back, he was bouncing super-high on a trampoline and all smiles.

Tomorrow is going to be another day though. His coach won't be there.. that might throw him...plus I'm just not sure I can sit there again. So I'm thinking...the car needs new tires...if he'd rather sit with me at the tire store, than swing around a high bar, so be it.

basketball camp

Basketball camp went pretty smoothly...after the initial panic when I realized Joaquin didn't have any sneakers he could fit into....he's been wearing flip-flops all summer!

This one is only an hour and a half, so we stayed there with him.

He really has improved so much since he first did Upward last winter. I can't wait to see him play some games this year.


And these bright new shoes seemed to add a little magic to his step.


Diego already knows what it's all about...dribbling, passing, and taking it to the hoop.


Although that hoop is pretty high.


The cones also provided a little entertainment.



But he was definitely in ball heaven, and even chased the ball cart around the court when it was time to clean up.


And what did Isabela do while all this was going on? Well, we were recently introduced to finger knitting by Mother Lode, here. It is super simple and addictive.


And then I found out you could make flowers with your finger knitting here.


Ta-da! I think I see a bouquet in our future.