Crazy Busy Summer continues...

If you read before my life has been most busy since the end of school this year. When school ended I had Jordan. Then I had little time for study, which is freaking me out, but I'll cope. July proved to be equally busy, BUT I am happy to say that I took a little rest from study to give myself a few minutes for blogging. Sometimes one has to stop reading in order to ingest everything. I have been reading since about 7:30 this morning, with nary a break.

July was busy almost from the word go. The following blog entries will address the reasons why.

July 3rd we celebrated Neil's birthday, so that he could enjoy the benefits of our "Birthday Adventure" as every year we get together on the 4th which is also his birthday and most things are closed. Neil chose rock climbing at an indoor gym. We started the afternoon off with a trip to The Cheesecake Factory. It is truly a wonder any of us could climb after that! I dare say those who were responsible for assisting us in scaling the walls had a bigger job than they originally bargained for following dinner!

While Brandon's presence was obvious and missed we hoped he was having a good time in Australia. So, Neil was first to climb the wall followed by Dizzy who took to it like a duck to water! In fact we registered him for a morning camp, he loved it so. One might think climbing rocks for three hours would wear him out, but one would be RONG:-)

Diz was a trooper the entire night and in fact wanted to stay longer. As for me, one climb was sufficient, but I was reserving my physical strength for two impending births.

Jeff was next to scale the wall. His physical fitness was apparent from diving, carrying tanks etc. I think I can safely say that a few years ago when he smoke, ate too much fat and was more sedentary, this climb would have been much more difficult! He enjoyed the climbing enough that he and Neil signed up for classes to learn how to do this without instructors.

Amy was up the wall next. She showed incredible stamina as she climbed the wall for the first time. This is her as she touched the top and I found a better vantage point for shooting. pictures. Amy did mention the soreness in her arms as opposed to her legs. We were told that it is your legs that do the work...HA I say! As you progress to inverted walls, you must use your arms. Amy seemed to enjoy the experience as much as the next person.

Charissa was next to scale the wall. Charissa displayed the determination of a tigress stalking her prey, one carefully considered step after another. I think it is safe to say she was not only proud of herself but pleased with her own accomplishment! She may also be hooked! I think it would be a fun activity for their whole family to enjoy together.

I was last to try and climb the wall. Let me say from personal experience, it is tougher than it looks! I had to use all my limited resources to make it up the first bit of the wall. I dare say the guy at the bottom probably did more work that I would have liked to have needed. The shoes were a major discomfort. They are supposed to be tight, but these seemed to be made for someone MUCH more petite than myself! I now understand what the women who bound their feet endured though this was for safety not for beauty. This was my one and only climb for the evening. It was fun enough, I will likely return. I must say DOWN is really the payoff, NOT the great feeling of accomplishment one receives once they have scaled the wall.

We finished the evening at our house opening gifts. It was a lovely evening and Jeff and I are glad that Neil got to experience his own day and birthday adventure even if a day early.