Mountain Climbing

I know I said I would write about my traveling experience however, there is another story just itching to get some attention....literally. Therefore, I give you this story instead.

There is always something I must do whenever I roll back into town. What is this tradition I have, you ask? Well, to go see my cousins of course. So, while I was out and about I ran over to my little Davis cousin's house. I love going over there because whenever I go I am always greeted by at least one cousin running out the door saying, "Jacquelyn! Jacquelyn!" I mean seriously, how can your heart not melt! Among countless hugs I get the questions, "Where were you?" and "When did you get back?" After that I get drug from room to room by one child after the other. (Every time I visit I have to have a grand tour, I mean seriously, there has to be something new I haven't seen.) It just so happened that this afternoon my youngest, well not youngest anymore, cousin Noah had decided that he wanted to go mountain climbing. Uncle Chad, being the awesome dad and uncle that he is had planned to go mountain climbing with all the kids that afternoon. Yes, you read it right, I said mountain climbing. Yes, I am in Kansas. I know what your thinking, just hold your horses and you will figure it out in second. Anyhow, I got roped into going.  

"If you don't have a mountain, build one and then climb it. And after you climb it, build another one..." -Sylvester Stallone 

We all met at my house where we would begin our journey. Kaytie, Chloe, Clayton and Colton rushed ahead sliding and climbing up and down the drop off in our backyard. Our yard backs up to the woods and a creek runs through it. You can traverse the woods all the way to my Grandma's house two blocks away. All of us have done it growing up, even my dad and uncle Chad. So, off to Grandma's house we went! I took a position near the back of the posse, keeping an eye on things and listening to all the ideas and plans. Uncle Chad is awesome, but in his awesomeness he gets a little crazy at times. (add in Kaytie, Chloe, Clayton and Colton and you never know what they are going to decided to do) Someone had to be voice of common sense. (You will completely understand in moment, unless you know Chad, then you totally get what I am talking about) I mean this is the guy who would dribble a basketball on the road as he was riding in the Jeep! I have to admit it was pretty cool. The point is, he's not afraid of anything. However, he can't bend down, turn his head very far or walk without a limp. But hey, if you have a race where you run backwards he will beat you any day of the week! Ya, it really doesn't make any sense, but it's true! Back to the story, we are tromping through the woods trying to find a place to cross the creek when we come across a tree laying across the creek. Clayton, not afraid of anything like his dad, began going across. Next Chloe crossed with no problem. The trick was getting Noah across. So, I hopped out onto the tree, made it into the middle where there were some branches sticking up, and got a good balance. Uncle chad then held Noah's hand and had him walk out to me. Kaytie then came out and held Noah's other hand and we walked across slowly in a chain until we made it across. Wahoo! Then came colton.....hahah I can't help but laugh. He talked a big talk but then he got out into the middle and cried like a girl. He eventually made it; everyone was across except uncle Chad. Between a large stick and my assistance he made it across. We made it up onto the other shore as little Noah yelled, "Don't come over here I'm peeing!" (Oh my-lanta!) 

With all that behind us, we began tromping through more woods. The older kids ran ahead laughing and having fun while Noah pulled out his "ropes"(some of his belts. We lost one, sorry Holli)  from his backpack and climbed mountains with daddy. It was pretty cute. I got a lot of laughs from that kid. However, as we were "mountain climbing," the older kids had discovered a massive tree that had fallen across the creek and decided to cross it. It was MUCH, MUCH larger that the previous tree and much higher above the creek as well. However, they all got on their little hineys and scooted up the tree and over to the other side. We got to them in time to watch two of them cross. I was holding onto Noah and Uncle Chad was on one end one moment and then on the other side the next. Apparently he just ran across! (not backwards this time) It was amazing except we now had to get Noah across. His legs are not long enough to reach all the way around the tree. So, we walked out and began our adventure. I sat him in front of me and slowly but surely we scooted our way across. It began to get really steep, which honestly was a little scary. I held onto Noah tight and wrapped my legs around the trunk of the tree to keep my balance as I helped him scoot forward. Then he would sit still as I scooted forward. Eventually we made it to the other side where uncle Chad could grab him and pull him to safety and me as well. 2nd successful creek crossing behind us, one more to go. 

We ran through the woods, the prospect of grandma's house close at hand. We came to the edge of the creek once again, on the other side there stood grandma's house. To bad there was no way to cross. So we kept walking. Soon I come upon the others, who were all ahead of me, to find them staring up at a huge tree that had fallen across the creek. The other side of the creek was extremely higher than the side we were on, creating a very tall tree that had to be climbed. Colton was already climbing up it and excited, squeals told me that we were going to cross here. To which I replied, "No we are not! Uncle Chad is joking, right?" I glared at my uncle afraid he was really considering this insane move. Thankfully he wasn't, I think. Either way we kept moving and didn't cross there. The older kids were off once again to find another place to cross. Uncle Chad, Colton, Noah and I who were behind for a while, silently took off through the woods to get ahead of the others and scare them. They were sitting by a place they wanted to cross, waiting for uncle Chad. As soon as uncle Chad found his stake out spot he laid down and watched them for a few minutes before they figured out where he was. He didn't end up scaring them but he did decided that we weren't going to cross at the place they had picked out. So, we kept walking. 

"I was born into the most remarkable and eccentric family I could possibly have hoped for." -Maureen O'Hara

Before everyone could catch up to Chad, Noah and I, Chad found a new place to cross. He said it was "more exciting." It was tree that had fallen on one side that jut out into the middle of the creek. Almost overlapping it were branches from a tree that had fallen on the other side of the creek. All of this had to be 6-8ft off the ground. With protests from just about everyone, uncle Chad began to walk across the log. I honestly thought he would realize that the branches wouldn't hold him and it would be near impossible to get from the log to the branches, and come back. That's not what happened. Chloe, afraid for her dad, almost cried as she told him not to do it. Kaytie and the boys said they didn't think he could get across and Chad said, "There is only way to find out." Two minutes later he began to put his weight on the branch when it snapped and there went uncle Chad as Kaytie laughed, Chloe screamed and I shook my head. Good thing his phone was in my pocket. Well, that pretty much ended our adventure. At that point it was "rush to grandma's before uncle Chad froze." You would think that would be the end of the story but unfortunately it isn't.

Thinking this adventure was behind me and I was about to take a shower and a nap, (because I was still somewhat jet lagged from my trip) I drove uncle Chad's truck from my house to Grandma's to pick up the boys and uncle Chad and give him some dry clothes. Easy enough. However, I pulled into the driveway to see Colton sitting on Grandpa's trailer screaming his head off and uncle Chad, wrapped in a towel in the doorway, telling me to hurry! So, I hopped out of the car, not really sure who to deal with first. I ran to Colton to find that he had gotten his leg wedged into the trailer. Apparently, one of the boards broke as he was playing. I made sure he was just stuck and not about to die and then went to give uncle Chad his dry clothes. The next few minutes were spent trying to un-pry Colton's leg from the trailer. A hammer and a wedge did the trick. By the time I finally got home and took a shower I had not time for a nap but was thoroughly exhausted. What a great story? Oh, I'm not done yet....

Skip a few days to Sunday afternoon. Sitting in the restaurant eating lunch, my legs begin to itch. I really didn't think much of it. After my accidental sunday nap, my ankles felt like they were on FIRE! I went downstairs and as I am sitting there talking to my mom I am constantly itching my ankles and my legs and then my arm. I thought, "What the world! Why am I so itchy I don't see a rash or anything?" But then it hit me! I looked down at my ankle and sure enough......my awesome adventure in the woods  ended in a horrible case of POISON IVY!!!! :(


(PS. I am sorry to all my family members who had to deal with me the past couple of days. I have been a grouch. The moral of this story? Poison Ivy is no reason to be nasty to people.)

This is not an April Fools day post, even though it is on April Fools day. All events in this story are true and painful.