MoreyPee:The Time of My Life

Kevin and I like to hike on the weekends, well one day of the weekend, usually Sunday. Lately, we have been kicking things up a notch and challenging ourselves to harder hikes. We did the Mount Si hike and though it was hard, it wasn’t too impossible. That being done, Kevin wanted to take on the challenge of an even harder hike. So he picked one of the hardest hikes in the cascade range, aside from the actual mountains, Mailbox Peak.

I told Kevin that I wasn’t quite ready for the intensity of that hike yet, 4,000 feet elevation gain in 2.5 miles. Kevin thought I was just being a wimp, so he planned a date for us to hike it along with our new hiking buddy, John.

I really tried to psych myself up the whole time, but was dreading what lay in wait for me when I got to the trail. I read the sign at the entrance and though the boys were excited by it, I started shaking in my boots. Maybe I simply had a self-defeating attitude to start with, but I was determined not to let the boys down.

Up we went on the trail, it started out decent enough for like a minute, but then the inclines started to increase and there was little room for breaks, you know flat areas so you can catch your breath. I swear at times, the incline was a least 45 degrees and it felt like if I were to fall forward it would barely hurt because the ground was only inches from my face. The hike was intense and I was going pretty slow, I had to stop a lot to catch my breath. We told John to go on without us because I was holding us all back, as usual.

Kevin and I hiked on our own for about another hour, before my heel started to hurt. We stopped on some rocks and examined the blister beginning to grown on one heel. Kevin has first aid kits in both our backpacks, so he dug out a band-aid and put it over the blister, unfortunately, we couldn’t quite find the blister and the he ended up putting the band-aid right on tip of the blister. After a few more twists and turns, I had to stop knowing if I didn’t I would have huge blisters on both feet. Plus it was just too much for me. We ran into a lady and asked if we were getting close and she dash all my dreams when we said we were almost half-way there. I had the crazy idea that we were past the half-way point, and that was keeping me going. Knowing we weren’t even half-way there yet, was enough to make me throw up my hands in retreat.

I send Kevin on without me and I turned back. The hike down as almost as difficult as the hike up. There were times I was afraid I would slip and slide the rest of the way down. It took me about an hour to make it down to the bottom. I played some games in the car, Sudoku, while I waiting for the boys to come back down. Kevin and I texted each other a lot and he told me on a number of occasions if John wasn’t at the top waiting he would have turned around too. He told me how the hike got even harder as he neared the top, but I’m proud of him for making it.

John and Kevin got some great pictures from the top and I do plan on defeating that hike in the future. I’ll aim for spring time to try it again, hopefully with a few more hikes in between I will not be defeated by Mailbox Peak again.

I spent the last few days in Idaho to celebrate a late birthday for my oldest nephew Chris who just turned a whooping 15 years old! It was a great visit and sentimental at the same time.

Seven years ago, I first met Chris. He was a hyper but adorable little 8 year old. My sister had met Dave and they announced their engagement and brought Chris over to Washington to meet the family. I remember he was a friendly little guy, he wasn’t shy or reserved at all and he was excited to meet some of his future family. I fell in love with the kid, he was great.

Chris and Halie, Christmas time 2003-ish

 I hate that my sister and her family live over in Idaho because I don’t get to see them as much as I would like to. I realize it is only an 8 hr. drive or an hour plane ride, but it is finding the time and money to do it that makes is so difficult.

Over the weekend, I got to spend some time with my nephew. We didn’t go out and do anything but we talked, played games, and just spent some good time together. I see him changing from a little boy into a teenager who will someday be a man. It is fun to watch, even though it makes you feel old. I enjoy listening about what is going on in his life, now that its not all about games and toys, but friends and girls and struggles.

I see a young man where a little boy used to be. I see and hear the search to discover who he is and who he will be in time. It was a great visit and I hope I can make the time to go over there more often in the upcoming years to watch as he continues to change and grow as a person and maybe actually be there for him on his journey.

Happy Birthday, Chris. I love you!!!

My oldest nephew Chris recently turned 15, for his birthday this year I decided I to go for a visit over in Idaho, (but more about Chris later). Anyway, I flew down on a Wednesday night and didn’t get to see the younger kids until the next morning. Thursday morning I was awaken to the sounds of Drew (5) and Sydnie (2) downstairs eating breakfast and playing. After spending a few minutes with Sydnie, she went off to daycare. Chris was home not feeling to well and Drew and I planned on spending the day together while his mom and dad went to work.

Drew was so excited because he got a Pizza Hut coupon from Book-it and he couldn’t wait to get some pizza. We spend the morning playing games and making treasure maps together. Then we headed out to Pizza Hut.

At Pizza Hut, Drew ordered a Pepperoni and Pineapple little pizza. I got some breadsticks and a sausage and olive little pizza. We talked about school and stuff and it was fun.

Then, I asked Drew if he wanted to see a movie, which he said he wanted to see “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” We came back to his house for a little after lunch and played “Guess Who” until movie time.

We got to the movies a little early, so Drew came up to the front seat and drew some pictures while we waited. We shared some popcorn and gummy worms while we watched the movie. Drew did a good job watching the entire movie. He got a little restless towards the end, but I’m still proud of him.

After the movie, we came back home again and waiting for everyone to get back from work. We all spent some time together before going to an award’s banquet for Chris’s soccer team.

It was a good day, spent with my youngest nephew. I’m glad we got to spend some time together.