We Do Things

TRIPPIN' AT THE FALLS.

It was one of those phone calls you hate to get, but are happy once you do. You know, the one that comes early on a lazy Saturday afternoon. You're busy cleaning up your yarn stash and the phone rings.

It's TGFF Dad trying to get us all motivated to do some hiking. I looked around at my yarn pile and asked if TGFF Mom was going. No, she was going to stay home. I told her to get off her lazy *ahem* and join us for the torture hike.

TGFF Dad decided we should hit the "Falls". It's one of the rare areas to hike around here with running water, so we knew The Kids wouldn't whine too much on this hike.

Sure enough, as soon as we hit our first water crossing The Kids stopped whining. Thankfully, it was only about five minutes into the hike. I'm not sure if J-Boy is giving The Boy a helping hand or a friendly shove here. As much as The Boy talks, I wouldn't be surprised by the latter.

J-Boy was ever so helpful in keeping us on the trail. Much like I was ever so helpful during our desert hike. I do believe he was a recent graduate of my new hiking class. He's explaining to us that he's found a perfectly good trail as we use the "real" trail. I think he murmered something about us being wimps.

The Boys found a cave filled with sewage and other human general nastiness. Nothing speaks nature like trash and graffiti. Although, I can now tell you who in our town to call for a good time. Girls, seriously, it might seem romantic, but it's not really. Especially when you leave your Del Taco cup behind. Also, if he spray paints your name on a rock instead of giving you a rock, well, you might just be a red neck.

All that hiking eventually led us to this pool of water. Icy cold water. Other than having to photoshop the bad words off the rocks, it was perfect. We spent a good long time ensuring The Kids were properly wet and muddy so they could ride back home in my newly cleaned car.

TGFF Mom did some rock climbing.

Now, that's class. Pearl bracelet and all.

I thought ahead and had The Kids wear their swimsuits under their hiking clothes. The Boy still waded in his jeans because "the water is too cold".  We can't win them all as parents.

We did have yet another BigFoot sighting though!

That totally made answering the phone worth it on our lazy Saturday. The beer at lunch wasn't bad either.

Although I can't blame the single beer for my tripping at the falls. Nope, those trips were just natural talent.

THE GOOD FRIENDS FAMILY

Some people come into your life and you are never the same. They match you in ways that you never thought complete strangers could. They become family.

We have been hanging with TheGoodFriendsFamily (TGFF) for years. Through various activities, camping trips, family get togethers, and Holidays spent together, they have become much more to us than simply Good Friends. Or even Best Friends. They are Family. It is a handy thing to have, when our born families are so far apart. We know that no matter what, we have them. I hope they also know, they have us. No matter what.

Due to financial difficulties this year, I guiltily tried to work my way out of our gift exchange for this past holiday. TGFFMom looked at me, I think in shock and astonishment that I would be so cheap, and said it was not possible. They had already been working on something for us and I could cheese out on them, but she would never consider cheesing out on me. (Okay, maybe she didn't say all that, but my guilt filled ears heard it. I had become the loser friend. Worse, she was much too kind to ever say so to my face)

I arrived home from delivering some baked goods around town one day to find this sitting on my kitchen counter.

Our family as gnomes. It is quite possibly, the best gift ever.

The detail. Those bottlecap mushrooms just about kill me. The preciousness of those tiny, perfect stitches on the moss.

Each one of us, presented in miniature perfection! Why, I'm as skinny as a twig! Those faces, the hair! The hair!

Why, we even look happy to be together! Happy! With a 13 year old gnome daughter! TGFF are magical.

The best part is when The Boy saw it, he decided that it could indeed be TGFF or us! Depending on the day and how much he misses his TGFFBoy counterpart, it is either family.

I hope you all enjoy your Fondue Maker.

Maybe, one day, when your dipping cheesecake into chocolate you might just find it in your heart to forgive your lame friend and invite her over?

CHERRY TIME

As we were driving to the Cherry orchard, The Girl commented that this was one of those events she would miss if we ever moved.

This is one of those events The Dad and I will miss when she is moving away on her own.

This is one of those events we hope will bring her home every summer to visit us.

Cherry season was a few weeks behind this year due to the colder weather we've been experiencing.

We have yet to hit 100 (hurray!) and we are all enjoying our cooler than normal summer. Even though we know we will pay for it with Christmas in the 90's.

 

It is very important to taste the cherries off each tree before you pick them. If you can have a Gogo's Crazy Bones sticker tattoo it is all the sweeter. At least for mom when she looks back on the day.

 

Even though, TheBestMan is not making wine in the same amount he used to, he still joined us for the fun. This time, he didn't torture us and use our children for illegal labor.

Although, this would have been the year since they picked 20 lbs. in 30 minutes. Yeah, we need to factor in the growth these kids have had before next year's picking adventure. $60 worth of fun in 1/2 hr. is a tad expensive, even for our rich blood.

 

Luckily, we were able to spread the wealth and share with some neighbors and friends.

As well as picking more quickly, they also are eating the cherries much more quickly.
The trees were so laden with fruit, The Boy could sit on the ground and pick. By the way, I told him he shouldn't wear sweatpants when it is 80 degrees outside.

I also asked him to change into something if not nicer, at least matching, since these are annual pictures.

That's what I get for not checking him before we left the house.

SOME WINING IN THE PINES

We are quickly making Wine in the Pines an annual event around these parts. It makes a great Father's Day present for The Dad and it is a more than fun time with TheGoodFriendsFamily Mom and Dad.

This is oddly reminiscent of last year.

So is this.

 

We had a grand time, TGFFDad and I staying sober and making fun of the other two for their drunken ways.

 

Although, honestly, TGFFMom was not drunk at this point.

Or this one either.

She just knows how to have a good time.