Our New Son & Gold Hill!!

Paul and I had the chance to go out to Gold Hill again this Memorial Day with our friends Marissa (whose family owns the cabin), Cindee, Adam & Cristina and our newly claimed son Ethan (you may hear from Adam & Cristina that he is actually their son but... just because he looks like them, has their last name (and Adam as a middle name) and "technically" lives with them, that doesn't mean it's their son. Just look how cute me and him look together. I think the pictures speak for themselves and soon so will the forged birth certificate and out of country re-location j/k).
It was so much fun. We didn't get to do much spalunking this time because the BLM seems to think that old mines are "dangerous" and "un-safe" or whatever. How can you call underground tunnels over a 100 years old (in some cases) unsafe? So, most of them have been closed off but we did a lot of riding in the 4-wheeler, on the motorcycle and in the ranger (thanks Whittakers). As always there was lots of good times. I also learned new things about friends I've known for a long time and a little more about myself. For example; Marissa is still hard core and she can still go into any situation with complete confidence however, even she has no come to realize her own mortality. Last time we went to Gold Hill she crossed a ladder-like walkway dozens of feet in the air and stood in the middle over a canyon while we took a picture (See the picture of her in the yellow jacket). This year she didn't quite make it to the middle or even a few feet out (See picture of her in the beige jacket) but that's okay because we like having her around and we're glad she's a little more careful.
I also learned that Adam does in fact have a soft spot and is capable of showing he's scared as was evident several times as he watched Ethan play on the rocks or above steep places - (why he is worried so much about my son is strange but cool I guess j/k ;)
I learned that Cristina is one of the best mothers ever! She is always prepared and keeps us all fed and taken care of. One time I said "geeze, I wish Cristina was my Mom" and Ethan said "no, she's my Mom" (he gets confused at times but we're working on it).
I also learned Cindee has a wild streak in her. She is always dressed up with perfect hair and make-up and rarely wears anything but heels but, she knows how to rock the 4-wheeler with the best of um'!
I learned that Paul does have some things about the outdoors that he doesn't like. We were sitting in front of the waterfall trying to have Cristina take a picture of us but she had to do it about 3 times because Paul couldn't hold still for two seconds and stop swating the little flies out of his face - I mean, what kind of Eagle Scout can't handle some flies on their face for a few seconds? Before I meet Paul I had only been camping a few times but I managed to sit still. It could have been my training as a girl though. Every girl knows that you can't afford to do something stupid when your getting your picture taken. You sit still and hold that smile until the shot is done!! I never let myself look stupid in photos especially by posing with inanimate objects or cartoon characters or posing in abandanond unabomber cabin closet or pretending like I'm eating a dried up dead snake... it's just not right :)
Finally, I learned that just because you almost die several times, on or in many different types of motorized vehicles (in say head-ons with semi's or rolling a couple times across a highway or spining out across black ice and narrowly missing a ditch or almost rolling a 4-wheeler) that doesn't mean you can't go ahead and try it again (as long as you have a helmet and keep your hand/foot on the brake at all times just in case and never go on trails that aren't completely flat with packed dirt and never exceed a certain set speed, and never go by yourself and always go during a well lit time of day and in areas that your familiar with and never go up steep hills or down rocky ones) I'd have to say that I didn't realize how brave I am, as I'm sure all of you can tell.
Mostly, it was just so much fun with my buddy Ethan, I am so lucky to have him. He loves calling people dude or midgets (which is pre-mature but may not be out of place since it will probably only be another year or so since he's taller then me). Its so strange though... Adam and Cristina don't like me to wander off with him, like I'm crazy or something. It's like their worried I might take him. Sheesh! You can't even get one on one time with your kids these days. I mean when Columbus claimed America nobody freaked out or told him he was wrong right or threatened to call the cops? Why isn't it the same with kids? j/k It was nice that the Smith's shared him with us and I was glad to be able to hang out with him (at least when his "Dad" Adam wasn't around acting paranoid) :)