High Adventure

Man, the house is seeming empty. Cliff left yesterday to help with a CREDO personal growth retreat...and an hour ago, Troy and Patrick left for this:


Their first high adventure trip with Boy Scouts. It's supposed to rain the whole time. They are packing everything in and out. They are purifying their own water. They could encounter deadly snakes. That does not sound like my kind of adventure. My kind involves an all-inclusive resort with cute monkeys and dolphins. Snakes aren't on that list anywhere.


I think Troy's got everything. Patrick was still strapping his together, and then it got loaded into the car while I was distracted...before I got a pic. He said I could take an "after" pic when he's all grizzled and manly instead.


Brownie wants to go SO bad. Poor doggy. I think her high adventure days are far behind her, though.



Brother Neal is so awesome to arrange all of this.

Can you tell what sign they are flashing? No, it has nothing to do with Glee.

(J for Jungle. Nerds.)



And they are off. I felt like such a stereo-type shouting, "You have your jackets?...and your water bottles?...your flashlights?" Here Patrick is, mocking me as he lists everything in his backpack.

Most of the boys had to give up something important to them to go on this trip. Troy had to give up a big wrestling tournament, "Rumble on the Rock" (and his coach was none too happy about it). Josh and Patrick had to give up their highly-anticipated winter formal dance (all of the high-schoolers had to give that up...it just meant more to some than others). I think they all made the right choice. (As I cross my fingers and pray that they have the time of their lives and that it doesn't suck too badly...and that no one gets eaten by a snake.)