tweet jolie: Day 2 of Summer Break

Day 2 of Summer Break: Ringing Rocks Park

Try to make up for yesterday's laziness
Decide on a healthy, local activity, Ringing Rocks Park is the winner
Let 14 yr old invite friend along to lessen complaining by said 14 yr old
Pack hammers and water bottles
40 minutes later, arrive at destination
Short hike to boulder field, take in its beauty
Start hitting rocks with hammers and hiking over boulders
Awe at the phenomenon of these mysterious ringing rocks
Come face to face with big black spiders, the likes of which I have never seen before
Soon realize that climbing boulders with a hammer in one hand while trying to take pics with the other is not an easy task
14 yr old's boyscout friend mentions snakes are likely down between rocks
Silently freak out and put phone away, so as not to drop phone between rocks and risk meeting any snakes
Come to realization that this climbing over boulders thing may not be for me
Can only think of movie 127 Hours and having to self amputate a limb
Start fear sweating, even though it's unseasonably cool for June 8th
Universe throws me a bone by way of long branch in middle of boulder field
Hope rises as I feel confident that I can now make it across boulder field with my new walking stick, and without too much bodily harm
Make it to end of boulder field, kids look at me like "what took you so long??"
Follow trail to waterfall
Think "trail" is a bit of a stretch
CAN NOT KEEP UP WITH KIDS
8 yr old falls and proclaims "I want to leave"
12 yr old is in his glory, repeatedly telling me how much fun he's having
Reaffirm my suspicion that I am most definitely an indoor cat
Reach falls, channel Chevy Chase looking at the Grand Canyon, and turn around to make our way back to the car
Internally have meltdown thinking about going back across boulder field
Feeling winded
SO FREAKING WINDED
Notice that all children that share my last name are also dragging ass
14 yr old puffs on inhaler
Observe boyscout friend hasn't even broken a sweat (wtf!)
Decide that there's nothing that will convince me to climb back over boulders
Rationalize that I can't be the only person to ever have this thought, and that there must be a "trail" around the field
8 yr old and 12 yr old are on Team Mom
14 yr old can't punk out in front of boyscout friend, so into the boulder field he goes
Huff and puff all the way back to the car and reward self with precious water
14 yr old and boyscout friend emerge from boulder field, and we all hit the road for a celebratory lunch and ice cream