Before and After

We finally decided to do some bedroom switching to make room for the new baby to have somewhere to sleep (other than right next to mom, that is).

So to make more room upstairs for the girls, I spent the last two days turning the downstairs guest room (better yet, the “mess” room) into a new bedroom for the boys.

Before

After

Before

After

It’s not totally done yet, but the I think the boys are going to like their new place.

So Much Snow

To put it plainly, we’re getting dumped on. In the last week or so since the snow began we’ve probably accumulated about 20 inches. But that’s nothing compared to the high country. In the southern mountains some places have received about 90 inches and are still expecting to get about 30 more.

It’s not all bad. For the boys it means more play (and more work, too!).

Sledding

Over the weekend we had the pleasure of seeing about 8-10″ of snow fall on us. On Sunday I took the boys sledding with some friends. Click here for photos.

First Snow

We woke up this morning to white. Ah, the first snow. I’m sure that after about three months it won’t seem quite so exciting, but for now enjoying the change in scenery. Here’s some photos of the boys playing and working outside.

Bowling Boys

Looking for a way to kill some time before the Mizzou game, we decided to take the boys bowling at a local alley in KC. You can view the photos here.

Brennan Summits His First Fourteener

(originally posted on .mac account on July 24, 2007)

There wasn’t any blood, but there was plenty of sweat and even some tears—not to mention a whole lot of heart—as Brennan (my 7 year old) conquered his first 14er on Monday.

(Photo: Brennan reaches the summit)

I could not be more proud of my son. If you’ve never done a 14er, well, it’s hard to describe just exactly what it takes physically and mentally to get to the top. To ask a 7 year old to gain 4,700’ (nearly a mile) in elevation over the course of 4.5 miles in the most oxygen-depleted air Colorado has to offer is no small thing. We took our time, and we took a beating, but we made it to the top of Mt. Elbert.

We hit the trail at 6:14 am and 10,040’. I was hoping we could make a one mile per hour pace and reach the summit by 11:00 am, but that was a big miscalculation. We made decent time as we hiked below treeline, but once we emerged at about 11,900’ we had to slow down and stop more frequently.

(Photo: Brennan at the trailhead)

As we closed in on about 13,600’, I began to seriously question if this was more than Brennan could handle. He was fading fast. He could only take about three steps at a time and then had to stop and rest. The altitude was affecting his body, and the false peaks were crushing his spirit. He wanted to go back down the mountain, but we had come too far for me to let him quit. His lungs and legs might have been spent, but I knew he had something left in his heart.

(Photo: Taking a break)

Still, we had two other obstacles facing us that should have spelled certain doom for our attempt to summit. With about 800 vertical feet and 0.6 miles to go, we were out of water and out of time. I had packed six liters of water, but it wasn’t enough. It was also after 12:00 pm, and we were going to have to break a cardinal rule of climbing 14ers: be off the summit by noon to avoid the inevitable mountain thunderstorms.

This is where we were afforded two great providences. First, on the way up the mountain as we came to treeline we met a foursome of guys from KC, which is two hours from where I grew up. Turns out we had some mutual acquaintences, which was neat, and they were really rooting for Brennan and encouraging him in his efforts. They summitted before we did, and as they were coming back down they offered us their excess water. They didn’t know we were out, and I didn’t want to take someone else’s water, but they insisted that they had more than they needed. They gave us about two liters. They also really encouraged Brennan and got him smiling again and ready to make one more push up to the top. Second, we had perfect weather. The skies were clear and there didn’t appear to be any threat of storms. One of the four guys from KC is a pilot for Continental, and he said the sky looked fine.

At 1:34 pm, we stood on top of Mt. Elbert, the highest peak in Colorado (and the second highest in the continental US), at 14,433’. It took us 7 hours and 10 minutes to summit, but we made it. And most importantly, Brennan didn’t give up.

Coming down provided its challenges as well. Brennan was totally spent and really struggled to go down the steep parts of the descent. He also came down with some altitude sickness, which really slowed us down and required frequent stops. He needed oxygen and food (trail mix and power bars are just no substitute for a good dinner). Every step was hurting his body, and we didn’t make it to the bottom until 6:19 pm.

I think Brennan may be showing signs of becoming a true mountaineer. In the car as we drove away, with his body in too much pain to eat, drink, or sleep, he just shook and moaned and said in no uncertain terms that he was never doing this again and he wished he had never come. The next morning, after a good night’s sleep, he said he was so glad he did it, and might even try it again when he gets a little older.

It may have taken us 12 hours, but when it was all said and done we had made a memory together that will last forever.

(Photo: On the summit with Brennan)