Mother's Day 2012

Back when Kayla was a baby, Chris came up with a lovely Mother's Day tradition that we have continued each year since; a hike to find a waterfall. Sometimes it doesn't happen on Mother's Day, but it happens sometime that weekend. This year, Chris had to work the Radio Masses all morning so we knew we wouldn't be doing our hike on Mother's Day. Instead Chris planned it for Saturday morning. We woke up, got the girls all ready for a morning hike, and headed toward the trailhead. Chris informed me that the hike wasn't too strenuous as it was labeled "easy" online and was only about 1.5 miles.

The trail started a bit steep, but it was do-able. Then we got to the point of the trail where it split onto a tiny trail that Chris said would be hard to spot. We found the split and headed down the narrow pathway. I will mention, too, that the trail cut down the side of the hill, so the edge of this narrow pathway was a steep hill rolling down to the river far below. It was the type of trail that my mother would murder me for taking my pregnant self and my two small children in backpack carriers on. But that was only for a short bit, and then it widened out a little and was rather pleasant--for like 2 minutes. All of a sudden we're on a trail that gets steeper and steeper and we are practically sliding on our rears down rocks (with our backpack carriers on of course). Eventually, Chris decides to take Kayla off and venture down himself to see if this trail ever gets better because we already feel like terrible parents for bringing our kids on such a hike. Kayla stood next to me on the rocky, steep hill (she was AMAZING and listened like a champ), while Chris checked out the trail to come. In a moment, he was back saying there were many more rocks to scramble over, so we'd best just head back. It was so steep that we couldn't immediately put Kayla back in the carrier, so she scrambled up with me behind helping her, and Chris behind helping me. I was truly amazed with Kayla's listening and climbing since we were on our hands and knees. We made it up to a point where Chris could get Kayla back in her carrier and made it back through the rest of the steep rock and the narrow hillside cliff trail, and wondered how in the world anyone had marked this trail as "easy".

I didn't see my waterfall because it was farther down the trail, but here is the picture of the girls safely in the car after our crazy hiking experience. Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

The story doesn't actually end here though....

The next day (Mother's Day), Chris had to work till noon. Shortly before then, he asks me to start packing up some stuff because we are going to hike to a waterfall. Nap time for the girls is about 1:30pm. The hike he has looked up is supposed to take an hour and a half (total driving and hiking time). We head off again. Partway down the road toward river, it turns into a dirt road; a fairly rough dirt road and one that is windy and narrow. Some dude in a truck almost hits us coming around a blind curve much too fast for such road conditions. We also have several experiences meeting other cars coming the other way in which we both cautiously go past on the narrow road (we, of course, are on the cliff side). We did see the waterfall that we were going to hike to from the road, but couldnt' stop long enough to even get a picture. Chris looked for some parking nearby as someone online had said there was "plenty of parking" down by the bridge. By plenty of parking, this person meant 5 cars doubleparking each other in.

With no where to park, and not even enough spack to make a turn around, we passed right on by our destination and the hike that went along with it, crossed the river, and another rocky, narrow trail on the other side of the river back up to a town on the other side. That town, we knew was just off 80, and we would find our way home (though it would take twice as long). So the girls somewhat napped in the car, and we again, failed to actually hike to a waterfall (though we did actually SEE this one). Chris spotted several others on the way back up the rocky road, and I even found one on my side of the road and snapped a picture so that we could technically keep our tradition alive and have some picture proof. Here is my Mother's Day waterfall (it's a bit shadowed)

Despite all the craziness, scariness, and disappointment at not actually fulfilling our quest as we hoped or planned, I have many memories from this Mother's Day that I will keep with me forever. I will remember how our girls were such champs and trekked on several crazy adventures with us and didn't utter a word or a sound of complaint. I will remember how Christopher tried so hard (and several times) to make my Mother's Day tradition happen. And I will remember how loved it all made me feel: all the effort to carry on a tradition for my special day.

Plus, Chris grilled some delicious steaks and helped Kayla and Elise make me a beautiful card, so my day ended on a perfectly happy note. I didn't get 'pampered' per se, but I certainly was showered with love. My girls make me laugh and smile everyday. Sometimes it's because they say funny things, sometimes it's because they do funny things, and sometimes it's just because they are there.