Our trip out to Bishop this year was a little different from previous ones. About 4 days in, a huge system came through and dropped the day time temperatures to just above freezing. There was no way we were going to function, let alone climb in that kind of weather, so we decided to pick up and head to Red Rocks just outside Vegas. I’d never been bouldering there, but Tommy told me it was great stuff, and we didn’t want to end the trip prematurely. I’m really glad we went because it was absolutely beautiful and the soft sandstone felt so good on our fingers. We climbed there for two days and then headed home ending the week long trip. It was a lot of fun and we had the boys with us which made for some interesting times. 😉 They both loved climbing around on the rocks and Will even fell off one and banged up his head. He’s a tough little booger though and while he probably needed stitches, we just rubbed some dirt in it and pressed on. 🙂 Tommy was able to finish off his longstanding project, Morning Dove White, which has now become my project! Haha! I’m very excited to go back next year and put that one to bed. We also ticked off some other projects and found some new ones in Red Rocks, so all in all, a very fun and productive trip. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!!
First day on – Ready to get on the rocks!
Here I am getting the send of a sharp pockety little V6 called Action Figure:
William showing his big bellyEating some lunch in the breathtaking ButtermilksWilliam looking like a ragamuffin. You can see the bandaid on the top of his eye. That’s where he split his head open. It was pretty scary but it seems to have healed very nicely.My other ragamuffin. Henry just wanted to dig in the dirt.Over in the Sad boulders. Henry decided he wanted to climb.Eric spotting me, spotting Henry. =)Will insisted on going up next…Cody spotting Eric, spotting Will…hahaha!Working on a problem called Molly V5.I was so close to the finish, but I just couldn’t convert…next year!William and Cody falling asleep on the rocks in the freezing cold weather.Giving one last go on Molly before calling it a dayWill starting the next day with a major send!Henry joining him – it was very hard to keep these two from testing their climbing independence!Will’s post-send call of nature! Never mind the main trail only 10 feet away!Henry climbing on the Savannah boulder. He did really well
Will’s turn to mess around on itHenry working his way up his first official V0 in Bishop!Slapping for the topGetting ready to work Tommy’s project, Morning Dove White (V7)Tommy giving it a burnWorking his way through the pocketsAlmost to the top!
…And finally after 3 seasons of trying…Tommy gets the send!
My go was pretty good too
Our friend Meagan got some really cool black and white shotsAwesome heel hookI was right there! Tore a tip and came off. Next year!!!!Love this shot…Me and Henry loving on each other…Tableland sunsetStorm sweeping in over the mountains as we left for Vegas the next morning…A stop at one of the canyons before death valleyHugeFirst morning in Vegas…so enthralled with their videoMe working the send of The Pearl V5 – this was a fun boulderThe Wave V3 – super cool rockAlexesizer V6 – super hard but super funVery slopeyThe next day – the boys met a little puppy named Bear and fell in love with himWe babysat a dog recently and one of the commands was to lift your hand to make her sit. Will thought he would try that with this little pup.Bear didn’t like his orders and instead knocked him down and gave him sloppy kisses!Then he ran and did the same thing to Henry…Later in the day, the temperature dropped so Will stole some coats, covered up and went to sleep…Some of our crew freezing in the cold weather. Cody, Petty and Eric.Our last problem of the trip. Porkchop V4 – very funSuch an amazing rock formation
This Halloween was a LOT of fun. A lot of work, but a lot of fun. We decided to hold a competition at our woody and make everyone dress up and climb in their costume. I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out, but it ended up being an absolute BLAST! It was colder then hell, but we had a great turn out and the people that attended said they had such a good time and are looking forward to next year. We put a lot of time and effort into putting up quality problems and I spent a crap ton of time on my costume. I dressed up as the Black Swan and the final product (not trying to brag) was amazing. Unfortunately, it was SO cold outside that I had to put on a puffy and boots to survive so it kind of ruined it. And because of that, I only got a few pictures of it. Lame, I know. Plus, we were so busy trying to run the comp, we didn’t take many other pics. Thanks to a few competitors, we got a few more, but next year, if we do this again, we will be sure to take a lot. I’ve already picked out a costume that would be ok in cold weather so I’ll be able to function. Anyway, for our first try, I’d say it turned out pretty darn good. =) Enjoy!
We made this a legit competition and started advertising for it on our Instagram feed. This was the first promo shot. Bone Daddy getting in some hangboard time. =)Here he is again taking a break from setting some problems…Checking his messages. Ha!This was the first place prize. It was hard to make cuz the fabric was very soft. It turned out beautiful though and we threw in some chalk and a sticker. Our buddy Petty ended up winning. He dressed up as Alladin.This was the raffle prize. This was easier to make and it turned out so good! Our friend Cory won it. He dressed up like House.One of the only pictures I was able to get of myself…and it was a selfie in the closet! So dumb, Ha! This one shows you how cool my crown was. I made that out of hot glue and wire. Turned out pretty good huh? =)This is a little closer. The contacts were a nightmare. It took me almost 45 minutes to get them both in and then I had to do my makeup AFTERWARDS which was so hard because I could barely see. But all in all, I think it turned out well. Heck, I still have the costume so I may wear it again in the future and be able to take better pictures. =)Here’s a picture of everyone. Tommy is far left – he was a sniper. He looked so good.Here’s everyone going crazy. It was such a good time. =) Oh and look at the top of the woody! Tommy rigged up a disco ball for the comp and it looked amazing!The next night we went to our buddies house and went trick or treating with all the other kids in the neighborhood. The boys had a great time. It was pretty chilly though.Will was a firefighter and Henry was Michaelangelo.Silly boy…Little sweetie…
Our good friends, Mario and Maria, have a daughter, Brianna, who got married in early September. I haven’t been to a lot of weddings, but this was one of the best ones by far that I’ve attended. I wish we would have taken more pictures, but it ended up being so rainy that we left all of our belongings in the car so they wouldn’t get soaked! Ha! Anyway, the venue was beautiful and it was really cool to be a part of this young ladies special day. I guess it was so memorable because I imagined myself in Maria’s shoes when she and Mario gave Brianna away. They were of course very emotional and I tried to imagine myself going to Will or Henry’s weddings in the future and how I would feel. I’ll probably be a total wreck and they’ll have to escort me away because of my sobbing and snorting. NOT looking forward to that. However, that is a while away and for now I can be happy with them at home where they aren’t exposed to girls who will take them away from me. Haha! Yes, I need help. 😉
Tommy and I cleaned up pretty nicely, I think. He’s the only guy I’ve seen who can pull off a purple shirt. 😉
William turned 4 this year and like last year, we rented a water castle and threw him a party. Had a great time and really enjoyed watching all the kiddies play around. It’s so interesting to think back to when we were all single. Now we all have kids and are watching them grow up together. How time flies!
Opening presents from Oma that morning. She doesn’t feel it’s fair to only give presents to one and not the other so she spoiled Henry too. Good grief.The goods…
They both love ThomasParty time!They actually brought us the wrong slide, but this one turned out to be pretty cool…My little boy! Growing up so fast. =(
And yes, just like last year, a huge storm rolled through and dumped all over the place. It was great though. The kids didn’t even care and played right through it!Some of the kiddiesIf I were to make a prediction for William’s future, it would be that he’s going to be a lady’s man. These two little girls latched on to him like glue and were doting on him all afternoon. He couldn’t get enough of it. =)This cake was evil…and so so goodTime to open presents!He got some really cool stuff
Well I have all the excuses in the world why I haven’t kept up with these posts for the past 6 months, but I’ll spare you all the details, and just get right to it! Took a trip up to see our good friends Jason and Shelley and their adorable little boy, Nolan, in July. We got to stay in their new house and hang out for the weekend. It was fun and so good to see these guys. We miss them down here in Tucson!
Nolan and Uncle TommyUncle SpenceHenry and Will with Auntie Shelley – this was at some land bridge national park up there. I can’t remember the name. All I remember is that it was HOT.Look at that foliage! Beautiful!The boys trying to keep coolThose stairs were so steep! YikesHere’s the cave underneath the bridge. It was hugeAnother angle…Really cool features on this wall…Kind of morbid, but at a glance they look like skulls! Creepy!TurdsMe and my stinkerTurds take 2…
