Rainy day.

What to do, what to do???

How about rock climbing!

A week ago we were invited to the neighbor's birthday party, which happened to be at Canyon Climbing. The boys had never been rock climbing, but due to their adventurous personalities and the multitude of places I have found them hanging and climbing in other instances, I thought they would love it. 

However, as soon as we walked in hesitation kicked in from the uncharted territory and overwhelming height of the walls. So for 3 hours of a birthday party our boys ran around and watched everyone else rock climb, even their parents.  That same afternoon, well after the party was over, Keagan started in with his usual "gnat-like" persistence. He wanted to go to the rock climbing the next day. 

"But Keags, we had 3 hours to rock climb earlier and you didn't even want to try."

" Yeah Dad, that's because I was watching the other kids so that I knew how to do it."

"For 3 hours?"

"Yes, so can we go?"

After many hours of questioning, we just couldn't go the next day. Not because we didn't want to satisfy the urge of our son(s) to try something new, but the soreness of my body and hands from my attempt to still pretend that I am 23 would not allow me to repeat my performance the next day. 

A week later and eve though the persistent nagging decreased, it did not stop. It was raining all day yesterday and showed no sign of stopping. 

So, let's climb!

I guess he was telling the truth, he just wanted to see the other kids do it, because we couldn't get him off the wall. 

And of course Kohen wasn't going to let his older brother show him up. 

She looks like she actually has a rock climbing uniform on. After a few climbs and a lot of peer pressure, she finally climbed all the way to the top. 

Hanging on for dear life. I think I was two feet off the ground for this photo. Hahaha. I made it higher. Couldn't let Kohen show me up. 

So that was our Saturday. 

Is this Texas?

Last week was a parallel universe here in Texas. With the winter arctic warning a week earlier and getting nothing, the last warning seemed to be a cry of wolf and standard over reaction by the weather team. This time they got it right. 

A winter wonderland has hit. Usually when this happens, the mysterious white powder disappears in a matter of hours. Not this time. The boys and the neighbors had 4 - 5 days of fun on what can only be described as a 3 inch sheet of ice. The sledding was some of the best I have participated in, and never would have imagined it would be down here. 

Mother Nature popsicles had formed on everything and created a beautiful scene all around the city. . . . for a minute. Then the chaos of being unprepared for such an event. 

Groceries could not restock the shelves. Power lines were down and thousands without heat. Trees falling and snapping due to the weight of the ice. 

Ice falling off of roofs onto vehicles made national news. (Luckily not my car). 

I am happy to report that we are starting to thaw out and only small remnants remain as proof that this storm came through.