Go Take a Hike
A weekend off blogging? Me? NOOOOOOO!Yesssss!
Surprisingly enough i'm getting into the holiday spirit, and enjoying it. Which also meant a few days off of blogging, not for lack of mind-spew but just a nice break.
The weekend was full of family time, a fun Christmas party with girlfriends and pomegranate martinis, and a very cool hike.
The day started out clear and cool. Perfect day for a hike.
These guys were rock climbing...all the kids want to try it someday. I don't. I don't fear heights, just falling.
Papa T joined us and snapped a family shot just as we headed toward some caves.
There were a few that "required" flashlights, but we had our cell phone pinlights to help us through. *yikes*
K wanted to spend the rest of the weekend at this reservoir throwing rocks in.
Can you find where X marks the spot?
The day got cooler and the clouds rolled in preparing for a storm, yet the scenery was serene.
A stellar jay anticipates rain.
At the end of our hike we saw swarms of ladybugs on many a tree trunk. They were kinda creepy like this, gave me the willies.
When ladybugs attack.
1.8 miles later we reached the car. As soon as we left, it began to pour rain. It was lovely. Lovely that we missed hiking in it. Ooh Hubby wouldn't have heard the end of it! ;)
December 15, 2008 at 2:41 AM
beautiful pictures!
December 15, 2008 at 2:41 AM
Great photos Jen...especially the ladybugs...but that shot of the family? It's kinda eerie cos you start thinking, "er....who's takin' the photo....?"
December 15, 2008 at 2:49 AM
And oh boy I'm lovin' your Xmas playlist! John Lennon's song is my favorite...makes me cry every time...
December 15, 2008 at 5:15 AM
Amazing pictures! Pomegranate martinis..Someone made me one, I really liked them..Mmmm, sounds good (for tonight!)
December 15, 2008 at 5:22 AM
WOW those pix are awesome! Looks like a place mr gp would LOVE to visit
December 15, 2008 at 5:49 AM
I was wondering what happened to you! Glad you took some time off - we all deserve it. And, I'm so sad I missed the party - maybe next year ... too bad we can't have pomegranate martinis at CH!
December 15, 2008 at 6:02 AM
Those pictures are GORGEOUS!! Looks like you had a fun weekend!
December 15, 2008 at 6:02 AM
Gorgeous shots!So glad you stayed dry and the lady bugs didn't carry off your kids.
December 15, 2008 at 6:44 AM
Great pictures! I just found you while blog browsing. :) Have a great Monday!
December 15, 2008 at 7:24 AM
Look at those lady bugs! One--cute. Hundreds--creepy!
December 15, 2008 at 7:30 AM
beautiful! The ladybugs though- I hate those, but everything else gorgeous!!! I had a dream you were pregnant- what's more disturbing... you being pregnant or me dreaming about you???
December 15, 2008 at 7:51 AM
what a beautiful place to walk...great pictures.
December 15, 2008 at 8:16 AM
Wow...that is a beautiful location for a hike...and your photos, as always, are fabulous!
December 15, 2008 at 8:22 AM
"when ladybugs atttack" - lol
sounds like the beginning of a 20/20 episode or something. too funny.
I saw the "X"!! You take some amazing pics.
December 15, 2008 at 8:56 AM
Those are great pictures! And the ladybugs, just wow!
December 15, 2008 at 9:00 AM
I seriously love your pictures, Jen.
That was a beautiful place, and you looked beautiful in it!
Thanks for sharing that one...great post.
Jay
ps- dont forget to get entered for our grand prize giveaway this week...this one is for the big one...
Jay @ HalftimeLessons.com
December 15, 2008 at 9:01 AM
Great pics!
So jealous of your "cool" weather. It was double digits BELOW ZERO this morning here!
December 15, 2008 at 9:29 AM
beautiful photos. 1.8 miles! that's like like a marathon with young kids...and a husband...glad it was a fun family weekend!
December 15, 2008 at 9:30 AM
I especially love the last photo--very cool.
December 15, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Great pics. There was no hiking around here this weekend. Just trying to stay warm. 8" of snow and a high of 21.
December 15, 2008 at 10:20 AM
no fair my pictures never come out that good when I go there! I LOVE the lady bug one!
December 15, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Ladybugs are about as 'communing with nature' as I like to get!
You are so brave!!
December 15, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Great pictures!!! I took the weekend off form blogging too - just too busy. :)
http://spiceworld.us
December 15, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Looks like fun! I love the ladybug one. It's cool but it gives me the creepy crawlies at the same time. :P
December 15, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Nice. Here it is 30 degrees and sleeting!
December 15, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Absolutely gorgeous pictures!
December 15, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Those are some gorgeous shots. But if I'd been with you at those caves, you'd be all: " Hold up, kids...Aunt Sue has to take her Xanax..."
December 15, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Beautiful shots! We haven't been up there since March, but the kids made me too nervous on the hike back. Did you find a safer way for K? We'll have to talk about that.
Odd ladybug swarm!
December 15, 2008 at 1:22 PM
sounds like you had a great family weekend!
December 15, 2008 at 1:34 PM
Oooh, love all the pics, especially the family pic!
We went hiking while on our mommy/daddy only trip over the weekend and the weather changed on us too. The wind was CRAZY!
December 15, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Gorgeous pictures, Jen! What a fabulous day. I love hiking . . . however all our hiking trails are fairly snow-covered right now! No lady bugs here, lol! All frozen solid.
December 15, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Sounds (and looks) like a fabulous weekend!
December 15, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Those are some great pics Jen! I know exactly where that is. We use to hike there all the time…before we moved away ;-(
December 15, 2008 at 5:32 PM
looks like a wonderful hike!! i haven't been as good with the blogging either, too much to do:)
December 15, 2008 at 5:56 PM
Nice pictures! I wish I had the time (or the energy) to go for a nice family hike! You have a very lovely family, by the way! =)
December 15, 2008 at 6:01 PM
Those ladybugs remind me of a Stephen King movie I saw once. *shudder*
December 15, 2008 at 6:25 PM
Bea-u-ti-ful!
Well, except the lady bugs...because, now I'm itchy, and feel like bugs are crawling on me!
December 15, 2008 at 6:34 PM
mindspew. . . I never thought of blogging like that. . . I like it!
December 15, 2008 at 7:01 PM
I can't explain it, but I think ladybugs are cool, not creepy at all.
December 15, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Fabulous photos! I'm lovin' that X!
And ladybugs are cool...until they invade your house. They come to my place to die. Lucky me. ;)
December 16, 2008 at 5:23 AM
Oh my goodness, your pictures are magnificent!
LOVE the ladybugs one...holy cow, theres so many!
Its beautiful there...what a beautiful place where you live.
December 16, 2008 at 7:08 AM
Thats beautiful. I love lady bugs, but that would so creep me out too!
December 16, 2008 at 8:26 AM
oh sounds like a gorgeous day!
Love the photos
December 16, 2008 at 11:17 AM
I'm kind of with K on this one...is there any problem that can't be solved by throwing rocks into a reservoir??
December 16, 2008 at 7:31 PM
I had ladybugs like that in my bedroom one year... it was CRAZY!
December 16, 2008 at 11:21 PM
Beautiful photos. I have been on a forced bloggy break. I am way to late trying to catch up...
December 17, 2008 at 7:40 AM
The ladybugs are amazing!
December 17, 2008 at 11:40 AM
This is extremely weird, I know, but I am soooooo scared of ladybugs! They are so gross! That picture gives me the wibby gibbies! :)
December 17, 2008 at 8:25 PM
What a beautiful looking are to go on a hike....LOVE all those lady bugs, how totally cool is that!!!
Glad you missed the rain, it has been pissing down here since the weekend...PITB. :\
December 18, 2008 at 2:33 AM
Great shots-looks like Pinnacles :)
MAJOR lucky that you got out of there before the rain hit-that wouldn't have been fun! Those ladybugs ARE creepy...ewwww...