My 14er Journey

It went something like this...we should backpack.  Ok where should we go?  Colorado.  Ok where?  I don't know.  We should do a 14er too.  Where?  Which  one?  Where?  When?  Days??  Pretty soon the questions outweighed the fun of it.  We had several late night talks, multiple text messages, and WAY too many google searches.  We knew we wanted to do go on a Colorado adventure, but we weren't quite sure what we wanted to do.  Backpack, camp, hike, 14er, hot springs.  Sometimes the problem with living somewhere amazing is you just want to do everything amazing in one shot.  I often have to remind myself that I plan to be alive for awhile, and we Will get away again and do more things.  

Anyways.  I've learned that since having children I have become more anxious about doing scary things.  I was trying to articulate this to Russell...and when I tell other moms about it they immediately agree.  So there's something there....but it's hard to put into words.  But it all comes down to this...I don't want to die before it's too soon.  What is too soon?  I don't know...but I guess I just don't want to be the one to end my life when it wasn't supposed to end.  That being said I'm not going to be a lamer and not live life.  Conundrum?  Possibly.

 So what does that look like or more...sound like in my head.  IDEA:  Let's go backpacking and hike a 14er while we are out there.  THOUGHTS PRE-RESEARCH:  Um. I haven't hiked all year.  I haven't backpacked for 6 years.  A 14er? Seriously.  That's tall.  I could legit fall off a mountain.  If I started falling could Russell grab me? He'd probably fall off too.  STOP it Megan.  You love hiking and pushing yourself, and mountains, and being away from the city.  YOU love doing things that are kind of crazy.  NOW RESEARCH a BIT (see headlines):  HOLY SH(*) Mountain...my ARS.  OF all 14ers we pick the Bermuda Triangle. OHEEMGEEOHEMGEE.  What if I get altitude sickness?  What if I get too close to the edge and fall off?  What if the wind takes me away?  What if I slip?  What if I break my leg and my bone sticks out and I'm bleeding and I go into shock?  What if Russell leaves me and then a bear gets me?  And my biggest worry:  What if I don't finish.  For the love of my head and everything that is right and crazy in the world.  It's amazing what you can do to yourself.  So after I agreed to Russell let's Backpack, 14er and Rock it....I googled every trip report/story/hike that has been documented about Mt. Holy Cross and others like it.  I pretty much freaked myself out and then told myself to quit letting crazy in and go to bed.

  On the drive up there I was nercited!  We spent the night in a hotel and began to think..I could get used to this.  I love love love enclosed spaces with tvs, and water, and showers, and bathrooms...let's just stay here.  The next day we didn't stay, we headed to the trailhead (TH- for you peeps that want to know what the hell they mean in all the blogs/articles/trip reports).  We gathered the backpacks, strapped them on and off we went...for maybe .10 miles.  I want to go back.  I can't do this.  My legs, my lungs, my back.  Not in shape.  BAD Megan.  Should have done more stairsteppers...should have ran...for GOD SAKES...should have hiked maybe.  I'm good.  Yup.  Just breathing.   We hiked up all the way up until I didn't want to hike up anymore...and then hiked down.  Down. Down until I was over it (my calves were over hiking down).  

AND then we stopped and breathed...like crazy. Because OHEMGEEE the altitude.

The tallest mountain here is Mt  Holy Cross.  This was our first view of "our" mountain!

As we entered the camping zone, we saw a few people there.  One of which I swore looked like Amanda Knox.  You know Foxy Knoxy.  This was a bit of a trip...as I was starstruck and worried for my life.  Anyways...We found the best camping spot and put up the camp.  I setup  the tent, Russell prepped dinner, and we ate.  And chilled.  And hung-out in the tent away from those evil mosquitoes.  Who's idea was this?  I hate THOSE bugs so hard.  They are biting me everywhere.  AND I'm pretty sure this is my version of hell with mosquitoes swarming me...and ready to FEAST on me at any second they can see a glimpse of my skin...hell.  Russell joined me in the tent and we then went fast asleep...I mean ideally that is what would have happened. OHEMGGEEE I'm going to disappear in the Bermuda-Mt.Holy Cross-Triangle tomorrow.  Will Dempsey remember me?  Maybe AJ will remember good stories.  Ohmygosh.  I will get struck by lightening. STOP IT.  HOLY crap Head.  And then I conked out for a couple of hours.  

 Except...it was cold, then hot, then lightening, thunder, rain, and the overwhelming thoughts of dying.

When we awoke...I was ready.  I don't want coffee.  I don't want a warm breakfast.  I want to climb this mother-efin- mountain so I can BE over these stupid thoughts.  Off we went, without our packs.  AND AMEN it was easier.  Not a TON easier.  But we had some dudes trailing us, which helped...because I wasn't about to let them beat us.  And honestly I was comforted in the fact that I knew a couple peeps were ahead of us, and these guys were following.  So I couldn't get lost right?  I mean I really trust Russell, but I needed extra eyes darnit.  So we climbed and climbed and climbed.  It wasn't horrible.  I would glance at the clouds other there and look at Russell with the eyes that said these or aren't the clouds that bring  the lightening that kill us right?  And he would settle the nerves.  Then it started snowing, and sleeting...and we were about to get to the last climb where we scramble (aka climb rocks) up for the last 20 so minutes.  This part I was nervous about...rocks move, and rocks are slip thank you Mother Nature for the sleet.  Not. 

 The first two guys were coming down from the summit and stopped to talk with Russell.  I know that voice....ADAM?  Megan? Adam:  Andy-it's Megan.  Andy?  It was pretty comical.  We just so happened to run into a few dudes from my school.  WHATARETHEODDS.  I climbed up to meet them and gave them a huge hug.  It was so nice to see familiar faces that had already summited and could give me the last bit of confidence that I COULD indeed do this.  They ensured us that we would be up there in 20 minutes and to follow the trail on the way down.  aka. Don't get lost and go down the wrong side and have a helicopter have to come rescue you and be in the 14er.com "HIKER LOST/RESCUE" section and be in the paper.  Off Russell went and I followed.  As Adam said, it was a choose your own adventure on the rest of the way up.  Before I knew it I was staring at Russell and the other two guys at the top.  I totally didn't believe it....I swore we had to cross another section and hike some more.  It took looking at the marker for me to believe we were actually at the top.  Due to the lovely snow storm we had ZERO view up there...which was okay because I just wanted to get down.  We hung out for a few minutes with Amanda Knox.  That's right she got to the top at the same time as us.  Don't push us off.  I'm sorry...that's horrible.  

We took the obligatory pics at the top by the marker, we actually didn't do the official obligatory photo with the paper sign but whatevs we climbed it.  As we headed down we started going toward the fake trail...you know the one that is why this is known as the Bermuda Triangle.  Russell quickly got us back on track.  The rocks were slippery but it wasn't horrible.  We crossed back on the ridge aka Roll Your Ankle Ridge...thankfully we both avoided that.  Pretty soon we were at switchbacks and with a total of 3 hours (the same going up) we were back at the Mosquito-fest Campsite.

 My dudes from my school left us a welcome message.  (Which just was so cool to know that we were in good company on the mountain that day...so sweet). We sat.
 And chilled.  And ate our breakfast and finally enjoyed that coffee.  Russell decided it was best to take a nappy.  He hadn't slept at all because of the huge storm the night before. His spider senses had been dulled which meant that he wasn't able to listen for all the attackers (bears, people, Amanda Knox) that he has been trained to listened for...so hardly any sleep for him.  I could only lay down for a brief minute or else there was NO way I was getting back up.  What felt like seconds later we were up packing our packs.

It t'was rough.  The path back wasn't awesome, pretty much straight back up 1,000' in altitude on sore legs.  OUCH.  But somehow everything felt doable to me.  I think because the scary part was over, I accomplished my mission.  So I led the charge up the mountain, and back down and felt pretty good.  The last mile did seem to drag on, but before you knew it the car was in our sight.  That was amazing.  could have happened etc.  Birth=Tattoos=Climbing 14ers.  So cheers for 1 of many 14ers in our future....even though during the scramble I said..."HELLNOIWONTCLIMBANOTHER".  Just like birth...you forget all the hard stuff.

Taking my shoes and socks off=also amazing.  The hot springs pool at the hotel that we stayed at=triple amazing.  Sadly that night I didn't get much sleep, not quite sure what that was about.  But I wonder if it was all so similar to my birth experiences...I know...I liken everything that kicks my butt to giving birth.  It is a huge reference point for me.    You can't sleep before the event because you know your butt is about to get kicked.  During the event all you can do is breathe.  You can't think about the past, you can't think about the future...it's one foot in front of the other.  The second you accomplish the event you say thank GOD that is over and mostly celebrate later because you are too exhausted.  The night post-event you can't sleep because you are just so relieved-exhausted-happy-not checking off all the fears that

Megan

Busy busy summer!

Well hey there.  Been awhile.  Like, a long long while.  Been so long, that I don't know where to start.  I think I last posted in January or something.  Sheesh!

Well anyhow, it should go without saying that we've been busy around here!  That's kind of become the norm - which is both frightening and also exciting.  Strangely, I feel like I can already put myself in my own shoes like 40 year from now.  In those days, I'm sure the silence in our home will be overwhelming, and I'll be thinking back to the times I am in right now, when there is hardly ever peace or quiet, yet it is amazingly fun and real and crazy.  Life is being lived in a very large and happy (and oftentimes exhausting) way these days.  May they continue like this for years to come.

As for me, I've been promoted to a Technical Delivery Manager at IBM, which means I'm a full-time manager now.  On the one hand it's what I've always aspired to, yet on the other it is a big change!  So far so good, I'm enjoying it and feel like I'm doing a good job.  We'll see where it takes me!  On the home front, I've been busy busy working on home projects whenever I get the chance (rarely lately, between all the travels!).  I've come to learn that my much of my happiness in life right now is largely tied to planning home improvement projects and getting them done.  I just finished a garage rack for our Yakima car top carrier and whatnot.  Also did the raised permanent irrigated garden bed this past March.  Up next is the outdoor shed, so I can finally reclaim some garage space!  You wouldn't believe just how tight a 2 car garage can be, for a family with only 2 cars.  Neither of them fit in the garage.  I think there's about 6 bicycles, 3-4 bicycle trailers/accessories, and about 5-6 other 'pre-bike' things for the kids to ride on.  It's pretty insane just how much stuff we have in there.

So here's the status report of all family persons, as it were.

Meg.  She's blonde!  

And isn't she a cute one!  It's funny how the human mind works.  I can hardly remember what she looks like with any other color and style of hair.  Except for when I met her, she had that long blonde 'Shakira' hair.  I like both, then and now, the best of all her hair styles through the years.  Maybe I really do have a things for blondes, eh?!

In other news, Meg is absolutely slaying her continuing education credits that she needs to 'move horizontally' on the pay scale.  She's already like 90% done, and will be totally done by the beginning of the school year, way to go Meg!  Also turning into quite the cook when she has time, and her crafty skills are second to none, also when she has time.  She's a heck of a partner.  The best that I could ask for, or even imagine.

Oh, and isn't that baby D-Snow adorable too?  Speaking of Dempsey...

Demps

Little 'Dempsey No', 'D Snow', 'Snowbaby', 'Little Sister', or as we've gotten used to calling her lately, just 'Demps'.  

This cute little girl has been growing up so fast!  The last time I posted she was hardly walking I think.  Now, there is no stopping her, naturally.  She has the cutest little penguin waddle run I've ever seen, without the bowleggedness of course.  She is a big girl, as far as she is concerned.  She started refusing to use the high chairs about 3 months ago.  She also eats with forks and spoons now (Ok fine, she starts out using them and then eventually goes to using her hands, the most efficient method to inhale food, naturally).  She wrestles with her brothers as if she is truly one of them.  Pulls them down to the ground.  Chases them.  They chase her.  Oh, and she has really taken a liking to kicking balls around.  She loves it!  Fitting that the US Ladies just won the World Cup.  Future player here!

AJ

My big little man.  Starting Kindergarten this fall, and SO ready for it.  He can count to nearly one hundred now, more or less, can add nearly any single digit numbers, and is learning to write.  Also in the early stages of reading, can identify certain words and whatnot.  AJ loves Legos, both following the instructions for a new Lego and also coming up with his own creations.  AJ has a big natural curiosity about the world and how things work, and his grasp of logic, cause and effect, etc. is better than any I've seen for a kid his age, 5.  He will just randomly start telling us about how or why some things work the way they do, or he will sometimes make observations about the world or share some bit of wisdom about something that seems beyond his years.  I love that about AJ.  I truly think he will be a scientist or engineer when he grows up.  I'd like to think he got those analytics from me and Grandad Richardson...  Also, he's a very sweet guy when he wants to be.  When someone leaves, it's common that he'll stop what he's doing and come and give a hug and a kiss.  He's also discovering his own temper, but that's another story haha.  

Oh, and AJ is a very good big brother.  We don't stage photos, they're so fake.  This one is quite real, on AJ's birthday night out, no less.  

Rykee-boy

Oh my Ryker.  The thing that I have known about you, and which becomes more and more evident all the time, is that you are a very passionate guy about everything you do.  You live in the present, man, and I love that about you.  When you're wrestling, the entire rest of the universe may as well not exist.  Same thing applies to when you are running/playing, mad about anything, sad about anything, happy about anything, and excited about anything.  You really feel your feelings.  I admire that passion.  Pretty sure you didn't get that from me.  I could use a little more passion about things I do sometimes!  Anyhow, this passion makes 'transitions' hard for you, and always has.  Things like going to sleep, waking up from sleep, saying good-bye, being told 'No'....  You are also a good brother, when you want to be!  You do have a crazy side that has been known to come up and push or hit Demps for no reason at all too, my little man!  You are quite good at riding your strider bike, I bet you'll learn the real thing ahead of schedule too.  We're excited to see you have the chance to get into various sports, we think you'll be a natural based upon what we've seen so far.  

My passionate little wild man.

Meg and I

It's true, Meg and I have been challenged these past few years, both individually and together.  Having a family changes every single aspect of life as you have known it.  It can be tough.  Anyone who doesn't think so is either lying or in denial.  Accepting this fact is the first step to moving through it and growing on a personal level.  We had a sort of 'grieving' period for the life that we had known after we had our first little AJ that lasted a few months, as we got used to the new routines in life and whatnot.  We've learned new things about ourselves and each other, sometimes in a not-very-graceful way.  Anyhow, we've grown a lot, and fought to remember who we are and who we want to be, and lost and refound our sanity multiple times.  We've done did it, methinks.  It's all about honesty and communication, who'd have thought?  Honesty with each other, and also with ourselves (which is usually the harder of the two).  Meg has her time away, I have my time away, and we have date nights out at least monthly.  We're blessed with supportive family and friends, good health, and great jobs that are quite accommodating to our young family lifestyle.  Not much more to ask for, if you ask me.  Certainly not much of anything to complain about.  Cheers -R

Root beer floats while on the G-Knight Ride!

 Lightsaber battle at Patrick's bday party, naturally.

 First Rockies game as a family!

 This is what 2 crazy fun people look like.

A pic from our latest parents-only adventure, backpacking and hiking up Mount Holy Cross!  

I, Megan, promise that I will never show embarrassing photos of my children to anyone...at anytime...even if they are completely priceless.

Just kidding.

:)MOMMA (because I can)

Nebraska Whirlwind Trip #3548983

Here we go again!  Our mission:  Attend Hoffman Fourth of July at the River.  Time there:  2 1/2 days.  We left a couple of days early to hitup some peeps.  It always sucks because we never get to see EVERYBODY.  For those that I didn't see, I'm so sorry.  DARNIT we need more time.  This time the focus was Grandparents, cousins, and new babies!  Every spot we stopped was so darn fun!  The highlights.

 Kearney:  The best splash pad ever.  I mean it seriously rules.  And girl cousins.  SO sweet.  

Lincoln:  SINCE when did Lincoln get so darn cool?  I mean seriously.  Russell got to go out and enjoy the nightlife, which was awesome he said.  Even so...there are cool restaurants and things to do.   My college self is a bit jealous, but let's be honest...we found great spots to party:) Am I right??? We got to hang with some twins...who are growing up too fast.  Darnit friends who live far from us...every day that we are away our kids just get bigger and bigger.  

Omaha:  Guess who just moved to a hoppin spot in O-Town??? That's right.  The Fruh-lok's!  How cool is this sweet loft...that Russell and I SWEAR we looked out some 7 years earlier.  Omaha was a blast....slides, good eats, fireworks (ish), and just fun times! AND I held the newest baby in our bunch.  Gulp.  He slept on me for an hour+ and I'm in love.  What a sweetheart...>I miss babies...but not too much:)

the River:  GOSH I love the river.  As we came across the beautiful bend into Niobrara, my heart began to flutter.  I love this place.  SO many memories have been made here...and to show my kids the magic here is just amazing.  I got to meet so many of my cousins' children and they got to meet mine.  We had a typical, rockin' sandbar experience one day...complete with Jungle-ish Juice stuff, rides on the boat/tube (including the kids), lots of sand, beer games, and talks.  My brother and his lady were there, along with my parents, which provided some family time that we rarely get anymore.  As always, seeing my bro play and get to know my kids brings me so much happiness.

The trip was crazy...and sleep was rare.....but memories were made.

:)

Momma