tradition

Every year for Memorial Day we celebrate by going hiking.  It's always so much fun and although we didn't know if we would have time to, we made the decision to just go for it.  As per usual, it was so much fun.  It has rained here all weekend, so the trails were pretty muddy and slippery, but it was fun, regardless.  Hiking is one of my favorite out door activities, and I especially love it when we all go out together.  There are always many laughs had when us six go on an adventure. 

Thank you to all the veterans and those fighting to protect this beautiful country.  Dad served in the navy right after high school, so Memorial Day is always special to us.  We love this holiday and always love to celebrate those who have helped protect the land of the red, white, and blue.  I think I go for all of us when I say there should be more than one holiday recognizing our soldiers. 

My confession: I may look like a city girl through and through, but I love spending time out in nature.  And hiking is one of my favorite ways to do that.  Happy Memorial Day. 

that one time I said I would never hike the dunes again...

This past summer I hiked the dunes with my friend Sarah, and I vowed that I would never, ever hike them again, as said here.  

But Emily came up on Thursday and we had originally planned to go Chicago and then those plans didn't go through and we still wanted an adventure, so the promise I made to myself was broken (for an English major, that sure was a terribly long run-on sentence).  And that is how I ended up at the Dunes today.  

But somehow, this time around it wasn't as bad.  Em and I had decided ahead of time that we were not going to take the same trails that Sarah and I had taken last time, as they entailed three large mountains.  And yet, half way through we changed our minds (whatever possessed us to do that) and did the same trails.  It was a bunch of fun and there was hardly anyone out as it is the off season.  Not to mention the water was absolutely freezing.  But we had an absolute blast both during the car ride as well as actually hiking and playing on the beach.  I cannot believe I am saying this, but I can't wait to do it again this summer with all four of us kids...

not a happy camper about the steep, sandy "hill"

What we get for setting a self-timer on the camera...a photo that auto focused on the grass...

My confession: I am so blessed that I have a sister who loves going on adventures just as much as I do. Love you, Em, and thanks for these awesome three days!