Climbing the Walls

Recently, we had the opportunity to
go on a field trip with other local
homeschool families to an
indoor rock climbing gym.

What an experience!

The children were all harnessed properly
by *real* rock climbers
in *real* gear.

They were prepped on the
*how to's* and the
*do not's* ~
and then they were set loose to climb!
Each child that opted to climb higher than
12 feet was linked to an instructor
by a rope through their harness.

Would I like to see my boys,
or Emma, for that matter,
do this for real...out in the *wild*?

No.

But this *seemed* safe.
And it was Fun!

This Mum truly hopes with all her heart that
her children don't get bitten by this bug!

Here's Austin at the tippy top of one of the walls...
see the instructor waaay below holding the ropes?

Fraser at the top of the *beginner's* wall...
it was a gradual slope.

Calvin...going straight up!

Fraser *free-climbing*...
they were allowed to climb without the ropes
up to 12 feet off the floor.

This wall required a little muscle...
it sloped backward ~ Austin really had to grip with
his fingers and toes to climb it!

Emma getting a ride!

Fraser ~ smile for Mummy! :)

Emma repelling back down ~ Wheee!

A serious climber...

Austin and Calvin doing a little *free-climbing*...

Notice that there are no photos of me?
LOL!

I kept my feet firmly planted on the ground
and enjoyed it very much.

Thankful this Monday for many things ~
some of which are listed below.

#1001 to #1022 on my list of endless gifts...the list of endless thanks ~

~ Homeschool families to do fun outings with

~ That most of the things I worry about never come to pass

~ That the children get to do field trips together!

~ New experiences for our family

~ Reading "A Christmas Carol" by Dickens aloud to the children...
and them asking me to "please, read just a little bit more!"

~ Slowly, but surely, getting things done

~ Most of the family is better from our recent illness

~ Howie is no longer needing to be in bed (sickest he's been in years)!

~ Howie is gaining back the weight he lost...
he didn't need to lose any!

~ For dry and clear roads for our recent journey South for a
Christmas gathering with family

~ For the border guard waving us through without requiring us to pay duty

~ For cheaper gas to fill up just before coming back into Canada

~ For a day of rest

~ For sweet Soren
(my cousin's one year old baby boy...adorable)

~ That Soren reached for me and gave me a BIG hug...
wonderful!

~ Aunts and cousins and a Grandpa who value family times

~ Clear skies and fresh snow on the mountains

~ Getting to the bottom of the laundry pile

~ Getting to the bottom of the ironing pile

~ Sorting out clothes to give away

~ New clothes to put away

~ Provisions...God is so good!