Hiking / aka male bonding

A few weeks ago Joel took Dean out past Waihee to hike the Waihee Ridge Trail. This is a pretty steep trail for more advanced hikers, but we figured they could at least go a little ways and wear Dean out!! You might remember from previous posts about the Waihee Ridge Trail that we sometimes refer to the initial incline (there is a long concrete embankment / road that you have to climb up to get to the trailhead) as "The Ass Kicker". It is seriously the steepest thing I think you can walk up without needing handholds!! So I guess Dean got to the top of "The Ass Kicker" and decided he'd had enough!! They didn't even hike any of the actual trail! But it did make for some cute pics....

Self-Portrait of a 2-yr-old:

And I guess Dean decided it was easier to CRAWL up "The Ass Kicker" than it was to walk!!:

Finally, I just wanted to take a minute to let Great Grandma Joan know that we are all thinking of her as she had to say good-bye to a very dear friend this week. Lucille had been part of my Grandma's life for, well, for just about forever I think. I know they've been very close since at least their teen years (and believe me, that's a LOOOONG time!!! No offense, Grandma!!). Lucille passed away on Tuesday and I am sure this is a very difficult time for my grandmother. I have lots of very fond memories of Lucille and her late husband Ralph!! So many summer days spent on "the farm". In fact, I was so happy to have Ralph marry Lucille that during their wedding ceremony (when I was probably about 4 yrs old), I squirmed out of my Mom's clutches and ran up the aisle and latched myself onto Ralph's leg and didn't let go!! I actually stood up there with them while they got married!! I believe there are photos somewhere that prove this, but I cringe now just thinking about it - how embarassing! I'm pretty sure I have Lucille to thank for the knowledge that potatoes and carrots grow in the ground and are actually covered in dirt before you wash and cook them!! And I can remember sitting on Lucille's back porch while she snapped fresh-picked green beans or rinsed fresh strawberries. Of course, not all of "the farm" memories are pleasant. There was also the time they came and picked up the cow, Cupcake (whose calf I had been given the honor of naming - Babycakes of course!), and I was horrified to learn where hamburgers come from. And I'm pretty sure I can blame Ralph for my love of Mt. Dew in a can. Anyway, I just wanted to take a minute to remember both Lucille and Ralph fondly - even though they weren't technically family, they were about as close as you can get without the DNA - and I firmly believe my childhood was richer because they were part of it.

We love you Grandma and we're so sorry for your loss.