Oneonta Falls

Many of you know that it is one of our favorite pass-times to go to the falls. The Columbia River Gorge is full of amazing falls. You faithful readers will recall many-a-posts about them.

Well, yesterday we found a new one. We'd heard legends of this waterfall, but never had the nerve to go see it. "Nerve," your asking? Yes, nerve. You see, this particular waterfall involves a 1.7 mile (-ish) trek, up the river itself, midst two sheer enormous cliffs on either side of you, a la Zion's Narrows. This particular season the water is also running high and fast. We had 95 degree weather yesterday but due to the intensely high rock walls the water didn't see an ounce of that sunlight. So the water was a frigid 50 degrees (-ish). At any rate, it was C-O-L-D cold! Once our legs numbed up a bit, it wasn't all that bad. It took a long time for them to numb up, though. We weren't sure just how high the water would be so we didn't take our cameras or phones. It was a good thing. At one point it was up to... well, it was up to my nipples. Yes, nipples. (This is Will writing, by-the-way). So these pictures are from the inter-web.

The beginning was enough to deter many people. You had to scale two enormous boulders with a 3-foot span between them. Either that, or swim through the icy water. Most everyone opted for the boulders. 3 feet may not sound like much, but when you're twelve feet up with nothing but a jaggedy pit of pain below 3 feet seems like a long way to jump.

After successfully scaling the boulders we then had to take on the slippery "Dam-of-Death". Tons of enormous logs smashed together in an eternal entanglement of slivery soreness blocked our way. This too involved some deft. But we made it.

Our path unblocked from this point we slowly trudged up through the rocky river. With an average depth of knee high (on me) it was no easy task. And again, I cannot verbally express enough just how cold that water was. Truly, the only way to describe it is, "Huhuhuhu...chchchchhcchoooooooollllllldedededed". This is where the bottom of the river decided to drop out from under us. This is where it came up to... dare I say it again... my nipples. For some reason, nobody wanted their arms to get wet, so the held them elevated above the water. It reminded me vividly of the scene in Forest Gump of him sludging through the waters in Veitnam with gun overhead. That's how we were. Anyways, there were a ton of people there. We even saw a woman with a baby (couldn't be more than a couple months old) slung over one arm as she worked her way along the river. This was more towards the enterance and I hope she didn't try to go up to the falls.

Well, soon after the near drowning the canyon opened up a little and we caught our first glimpse of the falls. It was amazing. This photo does not do it justice at all because it was running so much more water than what is shown here. Apparently, the river is quite deep just under and near the falls itself, such that you can swim around the falls and dive down in. It was too cold to attempt anything like that, but perhaps at high noon one could do such a thing.

It was an amazing and exhilerating experience to get there. We admired the falls for a moment and then realized we still had to make it back. So, we went.

All was going smoothly for us, until the deep area. Challene thought that scaling the wall was a better alternative than getting incredibly wet with water nearly approaching absolute zero. Many had done it before, so she tried. I opted for the water. As I was slowly making my way, and at about the deepest portion of the trek, I heard a high pitched scream, a "William" followed by the sound of falling rocks and slipping shoes. I turned just in time to see Challene lose her footing, turn, and begin to fall toward the water. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and I turned quickly and caught her. She clung to me tightly as I completed the journey out from the deep end of the river. She was slightly rattled but mostly grateful not to have belly-flopped into liquid ice.

We hiked back through the river, over the dam, and across the boulders back to the car. All in all it was an awesome adventure. I loved it.

If you're wondering about the kids, they stayed home.

Testing 1... 2... 3...

Our blog has been acting up lately. Perhaps it was the enormous post with billions of pictures we just did. This is a test to see if things are posting normally. If you haven't read the post about our trip to Seattle, then scroll down and click on the "Birthday Trip" link under the June posts.

Birthday Weekend

In celebration of Challene's birthday, we took a short trip to Seattle to see a Mariner's game. The following is a photo reminiscence of that trip:

The Game

Downtown Seattle

Home of the Seattle Mariners. Right next door is Qwest Field - home of the Seattle Seahawks. I would love to go to a Seahawks game... one day.

Empty seats everywhere, except both sides of us.

The wind-up...

and the pitch!

Joshy was clapping even before the game started. He loved it there. They were both pretty good for the entire 9 innings.

Hmmm... here we see Joshy doing his impression of the entire 3 rows ahead of us. Many Japanese people come to these games to witness Ichiro in all his baseball glory. The second he gets up to bat, out come the cameras. It was father's day weekend so I got a free shirt. Near the end of the game we were trying to rally the Mariners (they ended up losing, but that's neither here nor there) by swinging our free t-shirts over our heads. Ethan joined in and all the Japanese turned and started taking pictures of him. Somewhere in Hokido, Japan is Ethan's picture.

The Hotel

We stayed in the Hyatt hotel in downtown Bellevue, WA which is just outside Seattle. It's a beautiful town and very ritzy! I got a great deal on the room so we were able to pretend like we had money! Here's some pics from the hotel.

This was actually when Ethan was in a time-out. He was not listening very well. Not much of a time-out, eh?

Challene really liked this bench/patio chair set.

Pikes Market

Yes, the famed market. Immortalized by a scene or two in Free Willy. So, it's pretty much a big market place downtown Seattle. I suppose most of it's popularity is due to the fact that after purchase, they throw the fish to the packagers to wrap the order. Hence, the intrepid scene in Free Willy where Jesse, a preteen, aqua-mammel loving, ner-do-well races through the marketplace in perfect timing only to intercept a thrown fish to feed to his new-found friend.

Pre-toss

Post-toss

Here is a street performer doing antics with balls, tennis rackets, and all sorts of fodder. He wasn't really that good (not to say I could do anything near what he did, but when compared to other street acts I've seen he was definitely on the low-end of the spectrum). Ethan, however, has really been into juggling lately. He loves to see people juggle. He enjoyed it.

See, he just dropped two juggling pins.

The Space Needle Ah, the space needle. Can you imagine paying 40 bucks just to go to the top? Well, we couldn't so we didn't. But there was a big carnival/amusement park right underneath it, so we spent our $40 there.

Joshy loves the water.

Here are Ethan and Josh putting on a little performance for the crowd. Good dancing.

Kinda hard to see, but Ethan and I are riding the little roller-coaster. I'm the big one in the blue shirt and Ethan is next to me. You can't tell, but he's got a big grin on his face. He loved it!

This was their first time riding rides like this. They loved every minute of it.

She missed.

Below are a couple cool looking buildings that were surrounding the space needle.

Good Design

My cup runneth over!?! Odd sort of fountain, eh?

Kids got a kick out of it, though.

Car Fun

Well, we had a fun trip. The car ride home wasn't too fun, but what do you expect with two sleep deprived children? The plus side was that they slept until almost 10:00 a.m. the next few days. Good news for Challene. I on the other hand was still up at 6:00 a.m. for school. ugh!

My Sweetest Challene!!!

Today, June 11, 2008, is Challene's 28th birthday. We've been together for 11 of those wonderful years! I am completely in love with her and thought I would write a little tribute to the most wonderful wife in the world. It's actually more of a trip down memory lane. I'm at school, so unfortunately I can't put any embarassing pictures on here. A brief history of my life with Challene:


We met in high school band class. I was immediately taken by her, but figured our backgrounds were too different for anything to happen between us. So I did not pursue. Challene, on the other hand, pursued. As soon as senior year started she was all over me. She took auto-shop with me just to have more flirting time. We'd always work on my car because she didn't want to bring her Mustang in. I was oblivious to her attempts because I never thought anything could happen. I just thought she was being cute. Near the end of the school year there was a band party to be had up at north canyon park. During auto-shop she says to me, "So.... are you going to the band party?" "Not sure," I says, "I think I might." "Oh," she replied, a twinkle in her dark brown eye. "Well, my Mom doesn't really want me to go alone," (a big lie!!!) "Could you give me a ride?" Immediately alarms were going off in my head. "Yeah... I can give you a ride." We ended up spending the whole time together. At the end of the party after everyone had gone we sat on the grass and watched the sunset while she massaged my hands. I wanted to kiss her then and there, but refrained.


We didn't see each other for a few weeks after that. The school year had ended. A few days into the break I was thinking I should call her. I was actually on my way to pick up the phone when it rang. "Willie," my sister says, "phone!!! Its a giiiirrrrllll!" She never believes me that I was actually on my way to the phone to call her. Our official first date was that weekend (June 13, 1997). We went hiking with some friends on a trail right near the Bountiful Temple. We ended up having a food fight with our picnic and then went bowling. Our next date was the week after. We went bowling again with a different group of friends. This was particularly nice because everyone wanted to make it interesting. It was finally agreed that the losers would have to kiss the winners. I lost. We had our first kiss that night. AND WHAT A KISS!!!! I remember driving home passed Danny's house (he was in our date group), with a big goofy grin on my face, and honking several times in code to let him know that Challene and I kissed. He never heard the honk.


After that, we were together every day! And I mean, EVERY DAY! Despite obstacles that I thought would most certainly get in the way of our relationship, it was soon very clear that we were definitely meant to be together.

I left for the MTC on Feb. 11, 1998. The weekend prior to that was Challene's Sweetheart's Ball. That was an emotional time, I tell you what. It was like it was out of a movie. We were slow dancing and I could feel her shaking with sobs. I knew she was thinking about the coming Wednesday when we I would be leaving. Right at the climactic finish of Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On she broke away from my loving embrace and ran out of the gymnasium crying. I was left standing alone beneath the circling mirrored dome watching in shock as she ran out. A friend, mid-dance, leaned over and said, "Go after her, Will. Go after her." I almost chuckled at the shear drama of it all, but was more concerned with my Sweet Challene. I went after her only to find that she had ducked into the girls bathroom. She came out several minutes later and we went to our friend's house to watch some movies. I had been wearing one of my new missionary suits. The makeup stain from her crying was there the whole two years.

Challene came to my setting apart the night before I left. Seeing her leave my house that time, the last time I would see her for two years, almost killed me. I was 19 years old and hopelessly in love with her. She was so beautiful and so popular I thought there would be no way she wouldn't be married by the time I got home from my mission. Deep down, I thought that may be the last time I saw her. Despite my efforts, I could not come to grips with that.

She sent me letters faithfully every week. When I stepped off the plane on February 16, 2000 I couldn't not hug her. Despite the "ooo's" and gasps from my family it was the best hug I've ever had.

It was like we started all over. We had another first date which was quite awkward, but we soon settled back into old ways. You've all heard about the proposal (if not, see the anniversary blog). We were sealed on May 16, 2001. The ceremony was incredible. It was amazing to be surrounded by loved ones and to hold my dearest Challene's hands across a holy alter. Knowing that regardless of what this life has in store for us, we can be together forever... it was the happiest day of my life. That knowledge has buoyed us when the inevitable hardships have come. My mouth ached and ached that day because I couldn't stop smiling. I have many happy memories from that day.

It has been over seven years since that day. Despite the hard times... like me telling my wife that I want to sell our dream house, live in an apartment for three years so I could be a chiropractor... we've actually become more and more in love.

I cried as she struggled to bring Ethan into this world. It was a personal goal of hers to have him without drugs. That decision was made before knowing that Ethan would get stuck and need the use of some not very friendly forceps and suction cups. Seeing her in such pain and being unable to help her almost killed me. Hearing her call me, begging me to do something... almost makes me cry just thinking about it. She did it. She was amazing. Holding little Ethan in our arms after all was said and done was an incredible experience. That was almost three and a half years ago. Joshua's birth was a different story. She opted for the epidural (something she would recommend to every woman out there) and we talked and joked the entire labor. I love that she was so willing to carry our babies for that long time. I love that she is willing to have more when the time comes.

Challene is, perhaps, the strongest woman I know. She is always trying to be a better person, wife, mother, den mother, visiting teacher, etc. She is always trying to progress. I'm almost ashamed to say that on occasion she has had to drag me along as she makes her way through the obstacle-course that is our lives toward progression. For that, I am grateful.

I love her. I love her dearly. I'm so glad she chose to be with me for time and all eternity. I'm ever impressed with her abilities to be a good mother to our children, and a good wife to me. I love her sense of humor. I love her confidence. I love her reliance on the spirit. It has been there to guide us many times even though sometimes I'm not sensitive enough to realize it. Thank goodness I have her. I would not want to go through this life without her. I'm glad the Lord knows me well enough to know I need her. And I do need her.

I hope you have a wonderful birthday, Challene. I love you.

TOTALLY OBSESSED!

I know, I know, I am totally totally OBSESSED with "Twilight"! If you are sick of hearing about it then just skip this blog. So I was just checking up Stephenie Meyer's site and I came accross these updates.

This is a link to the office movie page that has been updated. They have the trailer and some pictures. Check it out, it is worth it
http://twilightthemovie.com/

This is a first offical completed scene from the movie. Very cool!
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?vid=237340

Then last but not lest here are some pictures that I copied from a link that was on Stephenie Meyers site. It is under the Twilight Series tab from May 7, 2008 so if you care there are even more pictures then what I have here.

Ahhhhhh!!!! Can't wait!