still alive

without a doubt one of the most challenging, frightening things i've ever done in my life.  i think i was pushed beyond every single comfort level i have.  we scaled walls, hiked into caves, jumped from waterfalls, (swam with fish, which is only scary to me, apparently) did intense rock climbing involving ropes at times, but the worst experience of all, no question about it, was riding that STUPID HORSE out of the grand canyon.  3 hours of that dang thing running and me holding on for dear life!!!  i thought for sure i was going to get thrown off of him.  i was 100 times more sore from that ride than from any of the hiking/climbing we did.  it was a very poor choice!  and obviously, i'm not a fan of riding.  i will have nightmares for a long time of that ride,  no joke!

we did have a fun time though.  i'd call it more of an adventure than a vacation- but now that it's over- i can laugh about it and enjoy it more.  we loved the group we went with, it was a perfect balance of people.  next time though, we're renting a beach house or going on a cruise. 

mother nature's crappy garden

well, spring has yet to be, here in utah.  and my garden shows it.  i have some onions, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, radish, peas and potatoes coming up- but they are small.  lettuce should almost be ready to harvest by now- and mine are about 2 inches tall.  so i wonder what kind of 'salad' crop we'll even have this year.  my plan is to get the full garden in on saturday.  the beans, tomatoes, squash, cucumber, zucchini, melons- all of it.  then we'll just pray for warmer weather. 

i was super excited today to find (in wal-mart of all places) some heirloom tomato plants.  i've been looking all over for them.  i got some pink brandywine and yellow pear.  i hope to be able to find more, but i'll be planting plenty of hybrids also.  it goes against everything i believe in- but the fact is heirlooms are hard to grow.  and if i want to have at least a decent tomato crop, i've got to plant some hybrids. 

yay!!  goldilocks is over and done.  it was more fun than i expected it to be, and the weather was fantastic that day.  (such a blessing.)  i'd love to pretend it wasn't, but it was still a challenge for me to get up that first 3 mile hill.  i discovered i actually enjoy bike riding though.  my friend amanda is already trying to talk me into getting a road bike.  ummmm, i'm not sure i'm ready for that yet.  but it was a good experience i'm glad she pushed me into.  :)  wendy and amy were amazing.  truly. 

and this is my new sweet grandma fisher.  she is a darling woman with spunk you would never believe came from a 91 year-old.  her birthday was mother's day, and we were able to spend the day with her at my parents house.  everything is working out there so much better than we ever dreamed!  my boys absolutely love her.  especially brig.  he thinks she is the 'coolest ever"!  i have to admit, i do too.  i played zilch (the dice game) with her and my mom this morning for a little while.  she totally won.  and she was so much fun just to watch play the game.  i hope i'm that with it when i'm her age. 

we leave for havasupai in 8 days.  i feel completely unprepared.  but i'm sure it will be an experience to remember forever, one way or another.