For Gina :)

We got very few pictures of our walk up Treman because the camera ran out of battery. But since Gina asked (and I love her), here are two:

It was a really beautiful day and I'm glad the camera cooperated to get this one last picture before dying. The falls were so awesome. It made the whole hike worth it.

Tenderfoot

My poor feet. It all started on Sunday afternoon when we decided to hike Treman Park. After two miles of going uphill, we rested for a little bit at the top and watched the falls. And then when we left I only took a few steps before I was in pain. It felt like my toes were scrunched into the front of my shoes and I wasn't looking forward to the mile of stairs I had to go down. So, like any sensible person would do, I took off my sneakers and went barefoot. Mind you, this was my first time going barefoot this year. The stairs were all good as they were stone. Then came the trails. They actually weren't too bad for the most part. A lot of it was packed down earth, but there was also plenty of little rocks and roots and twigs. And then I stubbed my toe really bad and my toenail ripped. No matter. I just sang "I Will Get There" from the Prince of Egypt to keep me going. After a mile and a half of walking in bare feet, they were pretty sore, so I put my shoes back on, and I'm not sure which was worse. But I discovered that if ones feet are sore, it is better to run down the hill as fast as you can rather than to slowly plod down it. More pain at once is better than a little pain drawn out forever. And so I did "get there" and thought my worries were over.

But my feet weren't through with their tribulations. I was getting dead falls in the woods later that day to get a bonfire going and got stabbed in the foot with an inch long thorn. After bandaging up my wound, I went on collecting wood and got stabbed not once more, not twice more, but four more times with thorns. They went straight through my foam flip-flops and into my feet.

But besides having a bruise on my toe from stubbing it, and an indent from the thorn, my feet are alive and well and once more running all over our yard.

It's Over

Anna and I had our third performance of Pilgrim's Progress this past Saturday. It is now over! Sort of relieving, sort of sad. We had it at a small theater in Deposit which was fun. Both casts got combined, so we had to share a bunch of parts. It worked out though. Victoria and I in our amazing demon makeup after the play.

We all went outside afterwards because it was so hot inside the theater.

Anna in her merchant costume signing a book. We all got books that everyone got to sign which was pretty sweet.

Some of the cast in front of the sign: David, Victoria, Cassie, Jenny, me, Jeff, Corina, Ravi, and Mr. Tombs with the camera.

I had such a fun time doing this play.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful sister-in-law Michelle!!!

She turns 25 today. I love you Michelle!!! :D

Miss California

I must give mad props to this girl right here.

On the Road

Well, I did it. I drove for the first time yesterday and lived to tell about it. Dad lived too. We took a bunch of country roads that I had never heard of and I stayed on the roads, missed everyone's mailboxes, and didn't run into any oncoming cars. A very successful first time. :PIt feels really weird to drive a truck, 4-wheelers and snowmobiles are a little different.

As we were nearing our driveway Dad said, "All the other kids missed our driveway on their first time coming in, maybe you'll be the first to make it." Well, I almost did. I slowed down and began turning and then took my foot off the brake and the truck zoomed into our field. Stupid truck. So the tradition is still unbroken and Anna is our only hope. :D

Hiking at the Falls

We went hiking Sunday afternoon because it was so amazingly beautiful out. They had a short trail to these falls here, but then you could just hike other places. That was pretty awesome. They had trails, but who needs 'em? Emily and I in the cave beneath the falls. It was a pretty sweet cave.

Teresa at the top.

I loved all of these rock ledges everywhere.

Crossing the great divide.

Dad, Mom, Emily, Anna, Teresa, me.

All the girls with Chris. (Teresa's boyfriend)

The parental units.

After bow staff fighting, we stopped at an ice cream place. It was a great day. :)