100th Birthday of the National Parks Service

No doubt I love visiting our National Parks. I can still remember the profound impact The Grand Tetons and Yellowstone had on me when I first saw them in fourth grade. So to mark the NPS 100th birthday (which was actually Thursday) we took Wade to the Blue Ridge Parkway to get his park passport stamped. We bought this passport for him on our trip to The Dry Tortugas National Park a few months before traveling to China. He has now stamped it in three parks!!

I can't wait until he is a little older so we can head West!  And there are still many parks on my list that I have never visited. 

We bought him a Jr Ranger hat and asked the park ranger if we could have a photo...but he said wait, I'll go get my hat too. 

And we took a short hike on the Tanawah trail so Wade could walk under the viaduct...and got this quick family photo by a passing hiker. I have to say, I love this home t-shirt on my little Chinese guy. China may be his country of birth....but NC, USA is his home.  I hope he grows to love visiting our nation's National Parks  too. He has already requested a trip to see hot lava....so I told him to ask Daddy when we could go back to Hawaii. And in just a few weeks he will get his fourth stamp when we visit Virgin Islands NP in St Johns. Who knew there was a US park there?

 

Try-athalon

I decided I will never be a triathlete, but a try athlete. This year's Ramblin Rose didn't get any easier I felt like I had about an extra thirty pounds on each ankle during the run. But as I was plodding along I was reminded that my Mom was already struggling with hip pain by the time she was my age. And lest we forget, they mark your calf .....

I hope to keep moving, and even though my time was a minute slower than last year it's ok. I am only racing against our family's history of arthritis and hoping to keep moving so I can keep up with Wade. 

Thanks Sam for doing it with me. This is our post event selfie. Not too glamorous but that's ok, our boys will hopefully see someday two Moms that wanted to stay healthy and strong for them. 

So even though Yoda said there is no try...do or do not....a try athlete I hope to be again next year. And if you want to join me ladies it's a wonderful supportive group. Ramblin Rose. 225 yard swim, 8 mile bike, 2 mile run (or mostly walk in my case today).