family time: climbing

this weekend was absolutely beautiful.

the weather was warm, the sun was shining.

the Huntsville Fall Fair was happening.

on saturday morning i returned from a short run

(i turned around a couple kms earlier than i was planning to)

i returned in time to have breakfast with my husband and kids.

we sat and discussed the plans for the day.

on my run i had an idea of what i wanted to do with the family.

the kids talked about playing lego. 

or with their stuffies.

the girl wanted to watch a movie: The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe.

nothing was mentioned about the fall fair.

i'll admit, i was glad they had forgotten it was this weekend.

i didn't want to go that day.

finally i asked if anyone wanted to go climbing.

was i ever so happy when everyone liked the idea.

because i really wanted to go.

i am in need of a road trip for some climbing or bouldering, 

that's all i've been wanting to do these days.

it was so beautiful out that i just wanted to take the kids climbing.

we decided to go at lunch. 

since we park the car at the McDonalds parking lot we would have McD's before we set up our climb.

and when we got home we'd watch Narnia while we ate supper.

i listened to the kids talking about how they were going to make it to the top.

i love listening to their excitement about this time as a family.

we all hiked to the top and the kids got to see how to set the climb.

they even got to help with aspects of it.

my husband is a wonderful teacher.

then we climbed down.

and i got my camera out to enjoy capturing some memories as my husband was belayer.

they listened to instruction, 

they remembered: encouragement only!

my number one rule.

since they were sharing a harness there was an agreed on amount of tries before switching.

there was barely any nervousness.

they remembered how high they had climbed the last time we went, 

and were determined to get past that.

but the ultimate goal was to reach the top.

i was so proud as i watched my boy work his way higher...

and higher...

and higher...

he made it!

both kids listened so well to advice or encouragement.

they looked for the perfect places to put their feet and hands.

even when nervous they were eventually able to calm down and rethink the situation, or listen to our words.

i love being their parent.

i love watching them get past a fear and accomplish things they hoped to do.

i love having the opportunity of raising my kids with rock climbing as one of our activities.

I have so much fear, and love, when i'm climbing.

i learned to rock climb in my late teens-early twenties

but i have such a hard time trusting my own feet, 

or my belayer.

i need the rope as tight as possible.

if i don't have a great hand hold i have a hard time moving on.

my kids...

they encourage me so much.

i watch them, 

i listen to them, 

i admire them.

they love adventure.

the fear is there, but they trust us.

they know we're watching out for them, 

but allowing them the opportunity to figure out what they can do.

my kids know i'm scared of heights.

i admit that sometimes when i'm on a wall i cry.

so i understand when my little one is crying because she is afraid of slipping.

but they also know i love this activity.

i love the adventure.

they also know i try.

even when scared, i try.

i told my little one that when i'm frozen, on the wall of rock, i pray.

i ask God for the strength to continue, 

to get past the fear.

she calmed herself and slowly continued.

i love afternoons like these.

daddy and the girl hiked up there.
i belayed for the boy as he did the final climb up and out, and then i hiked back up after this pic.
love these three.

*we did go home and watch Narnia.

i also took the kids to the fall fair on sunday afternoon*

*all photos taken by me, 

with Gertie

not edited.