Staying Busy and Loving it!

During the year, the majority of my friends live somewhere other than good old Meridian.  I get to see them occasionally when there is some event going on that brings them home, or on the rare occasion that they decide to just come visit.  But even then, i usually only get to see them for short periods of time, because naturally, they have to make all the rounds and visit other people.  So while i cherish the time i actually get to spend with them, i always wish there was more.  This summer however has been different! I have had plenty of time to spend with my friends.  I love it! 

We have spent many nights doing the things that we do best.  Such as movie nights in

playing games (rook rummy x1000)

and tramp nights! 

Along with all of our favorite go-to activities, we have had a fairly adventurous summer!  I love being outside and doing things outdoors.  I think that i am loving it more and more the older i get.  I tend to be a bit of a chicken (which i am working on) and that usually is what has stopped me from completely taking advantage of this love for the outside world. So for the past few months i have been trying to ignore the little voice in my head that says, "that sounds scary!" or "there is no way you can/want do that" and i have learned that things aren't always as scary as they seem and i can do a lot more that i thought.  Just a few of the things we have been up to include: 

Caving- which if you haven't done it before i will explain just a little.  It is a small crack in the earth that you go down, and then you have to climb several feet down and then work your way all the way back up.  When we go, we go to a place called Smith's Crack (i don't know if that is just what my friends and i call it or if that is really the name).  But at Smith's Crack, it isn't an open cave where you go down and then its open and you walk around.  This cave is dark, small and full of places you need to squeeze through.

The first time i went caving, i didn't have an amazing experience and decided that it just wasn't for me.  I had managed to dodge going again for about six years.  Well this summer, i still didn't really want to go, but i went for two reasons.  One, i thought  that i would give it a second chance and see if it was  any  better the second time around.  And Second, well i just don't know how to say no.  And what i learned from the second time, i still don't love caving.  I like the idea of caving, i just always panic when i'm down there and don't trust myself.  I think that have given caving a fair shot, and i think next time i will opt out and just stay home. (i hope)  

White Water Rafting with a twist- My friends and i have been rafting for years (mostly thanks to the Hoovers).  This year however, we decided to change it up.  Years before the boys have gone down some of the rapids outside of the raft, just in their life jackets.  Something i have always decided was too nuts for me to attempt.  Then another year some of the boys once again decided to go down the river without a raft, but this time they took pool toys.  Yes, the same toys that you would use in a pool in the backyard to lounge.  This year, the boys decided that was how they wanted to do it again. And naturally, i wasn't sure how i felt about joining them.  But because i don't really know how to say no, i went.  I was super nervous about going down on a blow up sting ray, but i decided to be brave and just go with it.  And to my surprise, it was a lot of fun!  Well at least the part that we did.  We went on labor day.  Which meant it was late in the season, so the water was low, and we didn't get in the water until 7 at night so the water was freezing! We went down for a while, and complained about how cold it was almost the whole time. (Poor Brant was pretty much completely in the water.) By the time we got to the first real rapid, it didn't look too safe, so we got out and decided that the hot springs sounded better! So i say that it was fun now, but i guess we will see, once i get to really go down all of it that way.  And yes, there is going to be a next time! :) 

While those two are probably the most adventurous that i can think of we have been busy doing all kinds of things.  Several trips to the hot springs, playing sand volleyball on some Monday nights, ultimate frisbee in the dark, couple of trips to see a midnight movie, bowling at the sub and lots and lots of other things have been keeping us busy!  I am pretty sure this whole summer there have been very few nights that i have gone to bed before 4am.  And i love it.  "No one will look back on their life and remember the nights they got plenty of sleep"  


I wish that i had been taking pictures of all these awesome activities, but i haven't. And any pictures that were taken, were taken by Ross on his camera so i don't have them.  But here is a picture of me and the two boys that are mostly responsible for all of the craziness we have been up to! 

                                                                               Ross

                                                              Brant
It may be a crazy life, but its my life! And i wouldn't have it any other way!