Rainier trip- August 2009

First of all, I had a great time walking around the woods and climbing the rocks and ice. I came home with blisters and sore hips, shoulders and legs, but I loved every minute. But first before first, Emily is so great. She was so supportive of me going. She encouraged me to take this opportunity because they don’t come along very often in our busy lives. I love her for that, and for taking care of the kids for the week I was gone.

I flew into Seattle where I met my hiking partners (ringleader being Fletcher, my friend from Tucson) We drove to REI to get rent some equipment. I would need ice crampons, ice boots, an ice axe, helmet and a climbing harness. We then grabbed some food at the grocery store in Enumclaw on our way out to the park entrance. We began our hike from the White River campground on the NE side of the mountain. We would take the trailed route up along Emmons Glacier, past Mt Ruth and onto Camp Schurman, our base camp.

White River campground (4400 ft) to Camp Schurman (9510 ft) was the the first days hike. It started out in a friendly forest path with the mountain looming overhead. We crossed a small river at the treeline, and the path went from uphill to straight up. We did a lot of climbing around rocks and boulders on the ridgeline next to Emmons Glacier. We were carrying all our supplies for the four-day trip, but it was surprisingly manageable. I don’t think my pack weighed more than 50 lbs. I was by far the weak link of the group. There were six of us, made up of ultra-marathon runners, extreme climbers, super-outdoorsman, and mountaineers. Then me, who can run a pretty fast mile and a half. They were all really friendly though and glad to have me along.

Sunday night we spent at Camp Schurman and Monday we would spend resting and practicing managing the ice. The camp was literally at the foot of the mountain glacier. From our tent we would walk right onto the ice and that was it. Monday we got roped up, put on crampons and walked up a few hundred meters to practice falling and doing a self-arrest with the ice axes. Each day there were teams of climbers going up and down the mountain. It was a pretty busy weekend.

Our summit day was Tuesday. We rose at about 0330 AM to a gale force wind. Tents were flapping, the weather still seemed manageable, but we would watch and react if things turned sour. We were roped in two teams of three, one would be right in front of the other. I was in the middle of one team as the least experienced. We turned on our headlamps and had our packs just with extra clothes and a little food and water. The next five hours passed quickly as we trudged up the ice. Unfortunately it was probably around eight hours to the top. I got to a point where I could tell I was visibly slowing the process. My breathing had become very labored at around 13,000 ft, I would take a couple steps and have to manage air-in, air-out. After a few steps more I had to stop and rest again and again. At that point I was getting really cold, and realized that no matter how far I got up, I still had at least 3-4 hours getting back down. It was then that I decided it was unwise to continue up. Fletcher was feeling a little ill and was willing to rope in with me and let the other four continue upwards. The four others made it to the summit (14,410 ft) and back down at around 4 PM-- after almost 12 hours! We slept there again, and the next morning, Wednesday, we hiked it back out.

I was disappointed not to make it, but really just enjoyed myself so much being out there. I would love to attempt another 14’er, but maybe one with less ice before I go back to Rainier. I need to find a way to train at altitude. Sea level apparently isn’t the greatest help.

200th post! Woot Woot!

I think I tend to oversell. Okay, so I said I had an announcement, and I realize that that makes things sound all official and stuff. So, uh, sorry about that. I exaggerate. A lot. You may have heard me say things like "want to hear the funniest story ever?" and it's just my lead-in. I am the heavyweight champion oversell-er.

But, I do have an announcement...

which will come later...

because now it's time for...

Memory Lane!

This was Reid at around 12 mos. and he was aw-hawl-hawlways getting himself stuck in these stools. It was pretty funny, and frustrating when it was the 30th time of the morning.

I'm sure I've posted this a hundred times, but it's just so awesome. This is Reid at the moment just before sneezing. I can't get enough of this picture. If you're ever in a bad mood, come to the blog and look at this picture. Problem solved.
Isn't this the cutest thing ever. This is a newborn Reid with a sweet new dad Erik.
This is newborn Reid with a very content new mama.
This is one of my all-time favorite pictures. This was around the time that Erik and I met, and he took a self-portrait while he was in Florida for work. I don't know what it is about this picture, besides the super handsome huz going on, but I just love it. It's framed and next to my bedside.
This was summer of '06 when we went to visit Nick and Jan in Houston. It was a great trip and we had a lot of fun with them. This is us at an Astros game, but I need to find the pictures from playing scum, because those are the really good ones.
Oh, this picture just cracks me up. Reid was born on a Thursday night, we got home from the hospital on Sunday afternoon, and this is that Sunday evening. This is me after taking a shower and nursing Reid. So, obviously no makeup on and the exhaustion has sucked all the color from my face except for my dark eye circles. I remember when Erik took this picture, and he was so sweet and so proud of me and our sweet little guy, and he wanted to take a picture of the moment. But then he looked at the camera to see the picture in the display after it was taken, and I remember his face was like...yikes. Then he said something to the effect that we didn't have to show anyone this picture if I didn't want to, and I knew from that that I must look pretty haggard. I'm sure I was, and probably hadn't slept in 3 or 4 nights, and had been nursing non-stop since Reid was born...

But at the time I just smiled like I would for any picture.

Anyhow, funny memory.

And look at my sad attempt to smile for the camera.

Alaska always had the most beautiful clouds. When the sky wasn't white and cold and snowy, it looked like this. I really miss Alaska clouds.
This was our first Christmas together, our first Alaskan tree, our first home, our first everything. That's still our favorite tree.

That concludes our stroll along Memory Lane. I don't have any new pictures of the gang to share because last week Erik was in Washington being all awesome and stuff and climbing huge Mt. Rainier. And he had the camera.

But, on to the birthday wishlist!

I take birthdays very seriously. I think everyone should.

So, while this wishlist isn't for real, it just extends the birthday festivities in my head, you know...the getting ready for birthday fun. Getting ready is always the best part.

Of course, a flower from Emersonmade. I love the big wild rose the best. And this color is perfect. Man, she's so rad. I bet she's good at cards. Whenever someone seems really fun, I always want to play cards with them. Playing a good game of cards with someone who's really fun is like the best thing ever.

This is a fat quarter stack of old bedsheets. I just love it.
This is a suh-weet necklace from Fossil, and on say-yul! Oh, that's my new thing, to make more syllables for words. I've taught Reid to say yey-yah! and it's awesome.

These are the coolest things I've ever seen.

See, there, I did it again. The classic oversell. Of course I've seen cooler things, I just mean to say that these are supercool.

They're reusable bags for the grocery store, or for, I don't know...whatever.

But they roll up like this:

And then they unroll into this and I just love them. But, over the past few years we've accumulated a nice collection of those really ugly bags that they sell at the front of the store, so I just use those. It's not really quite green (oh, I hate that word) of me to throw those away so I can get pretty ones, is it?

For the reader who wants to buy me this birthday gift, I'll even let you pick the color. Seriously, that's generous, right?

Do people out there in the world seriously just plunk down $1500 on a sweet cookware set? Who are these people? I mean, I wouldn't kick these gorgeous pots out of my cupboard, but dang...that's a lot of cash.

For real though, if you want to buy them, you can pick the color. My gift to you.
A million years ago I saw this woman on Martha Stewart's show, the one back before...pre-jail...and this woman started her own business of small hand-blown glass votives. The company is called "glassybaby" and they are seriously the most gorgeous things ever. That's not really an exaggeration. They're that gorgeous. I don't love the transparent ones, but the opaque ones are perfection.
I saw this in a Costco mailer and I think it looks a little bit like a yard alien, but it seems really cool. It's a composter, and I think the concept is that it's in the shape of a ball so that you can roll it around to stir things up. I'd like to start composting.

Backyard goals:

-grass (this weekend! The huz is the best!)

-chickens (heck yes I really do want them. For real. And no I'm not crazy. And yes, we don't live in city limits so I think it's kosher. And I think the boys will love them. Chickens are funny, and Reid's got a pretty sweet chicken impression already.)

-garden

-compost heap/ball/or whatever
I am so crazy about the company Vintage Hem. Natalie told me about them and I'm waiting for the day when I plunk down the cash for one of these beauties. They're slips that are meant to be seen under your dress/skirt. Like, if a skirt is too short...then this is a slip with a decorative ruffle at the bottom to give you a little extra length. Love it.

So, that's the latest birthday wishlist roundup...

which brings us to...

the announcement.

It's seriously not that big of a deal, but I've decided to make the blog a private blog. If you're reading this now then we're probably friends, so I definitely want you to still read the blog. I just think all this internet/social media/bloggy stuff is kind of strange and would rather have this thing as an online family newsletter type thing for friends and family than to have a for real blog out in the cosmic cyberspace world.

So, here's the plan. Email me and let me know you'd like to be in on the email list so when this thing goes private I can invite you to view it. Or, you can leave your email in an comment. As a bribe to get you to do that so you'll do the move with us, one lucky person will win some pumpkin cut-out sugar cookies from Cheryl and Co. They're so good that it's seriously wrong.

I mostly just want to send someone some cookies, so...this will be fun.

Well, there it is. The announcement and the special prize. Is anyone still reading at this point? This has been very long.

To sum up:

Blog going private.

We want you to come along with us.

So email me (my email is up in the top right corner area of the blog, or leave a comment with your email address) so that I know you'd like to be invited to view the private blog.

We'll take all those names, put them in a hat, pick one, and then send them some cookies.

Awesome.

Check you later!

the one before the big one.

Hold on to your chairs, people. This is going to be the coolest thing you've seen in a long time. There's this lady that makes the most gorgeous fabric flowers I've ever seen, and she's probably the best stylist I've ever seen, too. I promise you, you're going to flip out...in your head.

I love this last picture the most. I want that to be my look for fall and I want to wear it every day. Plus, I think a nice olive blazer would hide beef dinner/peaches/peas baby food spit-up stains like a champ. Except I would start crying if spit-up got on my pretty new flower...

Next month is the host to the best day of the year, in my head...

my birthday! and one of these flowers is at the tip top of the list.

Keep your eyes out for the next post (200!) for an announcement, more birthday wish-listing, cute memory lane pictures, and a surprise treat!

a little premature.

So I'm almost to my 200th post, which I think is a big deal because I'm not really one to stick with things once I've started them. Like at all. For example, today I took the seats off of our dining chairs to recover them, and I'm not sure exactly when I'll get around to the recovering and putting back together. But I got the undoing done, and that's progress!

Anywho, I had this big exciting post planned for the 200th post, but when I was looking back at the list of posts, I had a few drafts that I never finished, and when I deleted them then I was a bit premature in my 200th celebration. Dang.

One of the posts I never finished was about how the Arnett Family needs to have a family reunion where the entire purpose of the reunion is to put on the musical "The Music Man". Seriously, it would be so awesome. Not to brag, or anything, but I come from such a talented family that we could totally pull off something that ambitious in a 4 day weekend. Choreography, costumes, and everything. Our only downfall may be that we've got a lot of chiefs and not enough indians in our large family. But that can be worked through. Anyways, it was a rad post where I chose my picks for the cast (like I would be in charge of that at all. Ha! I'm definitely an indian in the Arnett Family. In some circles I'm a chief, but there are way chiefier chiefs in my family, and I'm happy to be an indian.)

Do any Arnetts read this?

If you do, here are a few casting teasers...

Harold Hill - Greg Arnett

Marian - Emily Moffat

Zenita - Megan Clifford

Mayor Shin - Roc Arnett

Mrs. Shin - oh, that's a tough one. It could be any of the sistahs, but I'm going with Peg.

the lady that plays the organ - Glenna

the sha-poopie guy - Max

Amaryllis - Lynne's Chandler

choreographers - Lynne Wolfe and Madison Jackson

Music director - Rob (big duh)

Costume director - Sally (I'd like to be on her team, oh and my mom needs to be one of the pick a little talk a little ladies, too. All the aunts do. That number would be memorable, believe me.)

edited to add:

after talking to my mom, who is pretending to be not totally excited about my idea (although it's clear she really is...) we came up with some more ideas

Tommy Geeliss (no idea how to spell that one, could look it up, but, meh...) - Joe

Widow Peru (also wrong spelling, but you know who I'm talking about) - Joy

the School Board Quartet - William, Brent, John, ?

oh, and while talking to my mom, she was completely cracking me up. I would suggest someone for a part and she would be like, "no, he's too old" or "no, she's too tall" and then when she realized that I had Glenna for the organ lady and Max for the sha-poopie guy, she was like, "uh, but they're like boyfriend/girlfriend, too. That won't work" Killed me. I kept having to remind her that this is just a goof. Uncle Max and Aunt Glenna (brother and sister to each other) aren't really together, it's just pretend for a musical. The thing is, my mom is a musical theatre pro, and I think she's having a hard time with the idea that this is just for fun and that it won't be Broadway ready in a reunion weekend. Love it.

Come on, wouldn't that be amazing?

Well, now I'm only 2 posts away from the big 200th celebration!

bathtime beauties.

Here are some fun pictures of bathtime while at Grandma and Grandpa's. Reid took a bath with his cousin Kate (who's only 3-ish weeks older, we love having cousins for our kids!) and Uncle Nick took some cute shots for us.

Look at those big beautiful eyes.

Here are the babies pre-bath, with baby food goop all over their faces and slobber in their hair from licking each other.
Erik bathing Dane in the kitchen sink. Dane luh-huh-huhves baths. He's in heaven.
We don't have a picture of Alec getting his bath because he HATES baths. Like with the heat of a thousand burning suns. He screams like a banshee the whole time and as soon as I take him out and dry him off, he's fine. Then, I rub lotion on him and he just giggles and giggles. He likes the lotion part.

The bath part...not so much.

some people are delusional.

I saw this on craigslist while looking for an awesome/vintagey/scrolley headboard. This is funny for so many reasons.

Oh, and I saw an updated post where they dropped the price to $675.

Nice. Now maybe I'll consider it. Considering they still have the receipts and all.

Crazy.

if my boys were puppies...

Reid would be a Golden Retriever:

-universally loved

-always up for fun

-happy-go-lucky temperament

-loves to run around outside and play ball

-in quiet moments he loves to put his head on my lap or on my shoulder

-and they've both got the golden hair thing goin' on

Dane would be a Newfoundland:

-big and soft and cuddly

-wants to be cuddled all day

-loves nothing more in life than loving attention

-loves playing in the water

-gives you sweet loving gazes all day

-the world's biggest softie
Alec would be a Jack Russell Terrier:

-small and playful and scrappy

-never stops moving

-I'm pretty sure changing/bathing/dressing Alec is comparable to trying to do that with a Jack Russell Terrier...imagine it, and that's how difficult it is

-always keeps you smiling and laughing

-makes lots of messes to clean up

-all the non-stop activity can make you a little crazy, and then you look at his sweet little animated face and as he's climbing all over you it's impossible not to smile and tickle him

want to see what's hot for fall?

Homegirl's got panache.

Ain't no party like an Olsen party

It's been about a hundred years since the last post, so, this will be long. But long is good when it's full of baby pictures, right?

Here goes:

Here are Dane and Alec trying on the shoes I got them for the wedding. Too big, but very cute.

At the rehearsal dinner for Erik's sister Dana's wedding, the whole group had family pictures taken. Reid was periodically found running around. This is a horribly blurry picture, but I love it. It shows the Reid I see every day, carefree and full of life and wonder.
Pretty Aunt Jan consoling a cranky Dane.
Grandma with sweet baby Jane.
Here are Erik's parents with all the grandchildren. It takes a lot of attempts to get a good picture with this many little ones.

I love this last one because Reid is showing his fruit snack (our good behavior bribe trick of the trip) and Alec has a feisty face on.

A blurry picture of me, but I don't get my picture taken very often, so here it is.
This one is funny because you can see the spit-up all over my pants and Alec has a crazy face on.
The day of the wedding! We were so excited to get to go to Colorado to be there to celebrate as Dana married the love of her life, Errol. They have an amazing story and we're so happy that they have each other. The wedding was so beautiful and it was wonderful to spend the day together as a family. Here's handsome Erik with our little Reid.
Baby Dane showing off his fancy duds. Hip hip to my mom for making the tie for Reid and the bow ties for the babies!
Alec is so full of personality. He makes the funniest faces, and here he's like, "Whoo-hoo! Dana's gettin' hitched!"
Checking out his shoe.
Reid being a good boy and occupying himself before the ceremony started.
Here's the group. The three brothers, and Natalie (Zach's wife).
Dana and Dad going down the aisle. It was my favorite moment of the day. They were both teary and it was such a special and touching sight.

This was one of Reid's pictures. We let him take a few and this is from his viewpoint:

sippy cup

funny Uncle Zach

Uncle Nick with cousin Kate

lots of pretty twinkle lights
Me and the huz.
Reid digging the wedding cake.
Erik catching a dance with the beautiful bride.
After the wedding was over, we all partied at Erik's parent's house for the next week and just got back yesterday. I loved all the company and help with my little crew. They got lots of love and attention. Here's a cute shot of sweet little tummies.
Reid enjoying his first Krispy Kreme.
We went on a train ride through the mountains and got to listen to Reid's train impression. It's a good one.
That brings us to this morning. Reid is showing me "Peek a BOO!" I can't get enough of that face!