take a hike

this is over a week old, but it dawned on me yesterday as we were driving a little ways up the canyon that i wanted to share this moment with all of you, so here ya go... on friday, May 30th, my "local sisters", their kids (except Josh; we missed you, dude!), me, my kids and my parents all got together for a picnic lunch at a park near my sister Eileen's house. afterwards, Jeanine had to go, but the rest of us went for a hike to a waterfall. the cousins (with the exception of Autumn) eventually ended up out of sight ahead of the rest of us, but they were surely not 'out of sound', what with all of their hollerin' & carryin' on at the waterfall. i knew it must be getting close, they were so loud. :) Autumn did rather well, considering her age. Eileen & Krista carried her for only really brief moments. i felt some vertigo in places (i'm afraid of heights) and so i leaned on my dad since my hiking partner (Peter) wasn't there to help me feel secure, as he usually does. it was a beautiful day, but after hoofin' it up the mountainside, i welcomed the cold mist from the waterfall. (there were actually two waterfalls right next to each other.) we hung out there for a bit, enjoying the surroundings while the cousins crossed the river this way & that and climbed up over here & there, then we headed back down. good times.

Brandon at the base of one of the waterfalls. they weren't anywhere near the force of Niagra, but lovely in their own way. :)

took this on the way up...keep in mind I took these pics with my cell phone.

this is a closer shot of the top of the other waterfall; love the streaks of sun. :)