SISTER'S FLING!

SISTER'S FLING!

~2014~

The invitation I made for the BIG ROCKIN' event! ↑
I am waiting on getting pictures from my SIL's before I can finish this post.  There are so many more fun pix that I want to add and so until then...  take a little rock around the clock...

First stop, Boondocks for some stylish bowling!

Next, good times at The Burger Stop...

We just could NOT get the jump on together!  We kept trying and trying.... but we had some good laughs trying!

The little ones had NO problem getting it down the first try.... 
Us...not so much.

Trying and trying some more...

FINALLY!  SUCCESS!

And even TWICE!

My mini-mini hamburgers.  So cute and so easy!

Goofing off before the talent show...

Performing our talent (or lack thereof)

We represent the Lollipop Guild...

We also ROCKED AROUND THE CLOCK (we are mulit-talented)

Talent Show...

Sweet eats....

Just some Soda Pop for some Rockin' Chicks!

Great memories!

How You Have Changed in the Past Two Years~ Day #29

Blog Challenge - Day 29

 ~How You Have Changed in the Past Two Years~

This one was tough because not a lot changes in two years when you are my age.  Now had the challenge said "the past 10 years" that would have been a whole different post.

The main thing about me that has changed is I am now in the five oh age bracket!  Oh wow, that is hard to write!  I still feel 20 inside, how can I really be 50?  But it is what it is and at least people who have more birthdays live longer, so I'll take it over the alternative!
So far it hasn't been so bad.  And I have great friends who made it fun for me.  That was two years ago and so now I'm fifty____  ...well YOU do the math.  I don't like saying it or writing it!

Even though I have always been pretty adventurous, courageous, and daring, one way I have changed in the past couple of years is I have jumped (literally in some cases) at more opportunities to do those kind of things and even sought them out.  I actually jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and I'm pretty sure I would NOT have done that had I not turned the big 5-0.  It was kind of a right of passage for me.  Well, okay the truth is my oldest son Skyler talked me into it.  He can pretty much talk me into about anything!  I'm still a bit shocked he was able to pull this off though.

I am afraid of heights.  I never had ANY desire to skydive!  NONE!  But here I am on my 50th birthday in Hawaii about to jump from an airplane 13,000 feet above the ground!
Was I scared?

Oh...yeah!

This quote sums the experience up quite perfectly...

SO I DID!

YES!  I. WAS.TERRIFIED! (as the bottom right photo↑ depicts!)  But that made it that much sweeter after!  That and the fact that I didn't die!

I love Sky's face (far right) in this ↓ photo.  I think he was pretty pumped he actually got me to do that!  As for me, I'm just happy I LIVED to tell about it!  Once I landed I was just so happy and kept saying over and over, "I didn't die! - I didn't die!"

It actually was an amazing experience.  I didn't really enjoy it much until my chute opened (whew!) and I knew I was going to enjoy more time on this earth instead of being plowed into it.  Once my tandem instructor stopped doing spins (we did seven and he promised we would only do one!) and I was able to breath again, I really enjoyed the peacefulness of being up that high away from everything.
It was the most incredible feeling just floating through the air and seeing the beautiful scenery below.  If you are going to risk your life skydiving, be sure and do it in beautiful Hawaii so (in case it's the last thing you see), it will be gorgeous!

 

Once I turned 50, a big change came over me.  Something kind of snapped in me and I decided that I wanted a cat.  Well, I have ALWAYS wanted a cat, but I decided that I am FIFTY years old and if I want a cat, then by dang I am going to have a cat!  Much to the dismay of Dave and Skyler.  So I went to Petsmart and came home with a kitty.  Unfortunately he didn't live more than a month. He had a pre-existing condition I was not aware of when I adopted him.  So sadly we buried him. 

Luckily after he passed away Bryce found me another cat on Facebook.  He wasn't the same as Kit Kat, but he was still a cat and I fell in love with Mr. Cat immediately! 

I love Mr. Cat.  He isn't quite as fond of me as I am of him, but that's a cat for ya!

Shortly after that, Bryce brought Kilo home!  A cat AND a dog?  Oh my, I was in pet heaven!  If I had my way, I'd have a house full of furry critters!

I would say the biggest way I have changed is I really don't fear as many things as I used to.  Would I jump out of a plane again?  Well, there's probably a good chance if I got another Hawaiian vacay out of it.  I have come to learn that life is short and we have to do things now while we still can and have the chance.  
Like I said, I have ALWAYS been adventurous, but sometimes I would hold back because I was worried what someone might think or say.  NOT ANYMORE!  That is one of the greatest things that you actually "aquire" from aging.  I just DO. NOT. CARE. what others think.  They can take me or they can leave me.  It's their choice and I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.

Adventure is everywhere waiting to happen!  I'm gonna make it happen while I can!

For example.... laying on the railroad tracks dressed up like a witch.  

Or... riding the Front Runner with six other crazies dressed up like witches.

Or... going on a wilderness Pioneer Trek for an entire week without showers or other amenities!  That was an adventure to be sure!

 

Or.... running a crazy race in the mud and bogs and swamps not knowing what was lurking below in that deep mud and murk! 

 

 

Or... standing out in a freezing cold river with leaky waders for hours fishing in the Alaskan wilderness.  

Or... running a marathon in a downpour for 4 and a half hours!

I have FINALLY been able to achieve the art of bread making!  It has taken me quite a few years, but now I can make a great loaf of bread and I can even grind my own wheat. 

And one more ... last but not least... one other change I am so happy about is I have become a little more patient.  It's taken a while, BUT... I was patient! 

 

If there is one thing I have learned about life it's that it will change.  We will change.  It may be for the better or for the worse, but no matter what, it WILL change!
So cherish the moments NOW!

  

Skydiving Hawaii 5-0!!!

 

Sky talked me into going skydiving for my 50th birthday!  I REALLY did NOT want to, but I am so glad he is so persuasive and got me to. I was after all, turning 50 AND in Hawaii!  What better way to celebrate than jumping out of a perfectly good airplane over the most gorgeous place in the world (at least that I have been to). My own Hawaii 5-0!!!

It was by far one of the best things I have ever done in my life and for sure one of the most memorable!!!  It took all the guts I had, especially after watching the video when we entered the building and listened to how risky and dangerous it is!  And then I had to sign a wavier that said: 

WARNING: SKYDIVING IS DANGEROUS

YOU MAY BE INJURED OR KILLED

 I was really getting VERY nervous. The boys were totally chill.  Dave wanted nothing to do with it. He was the smart one. McKay was "dying" to go, but he was underage. I didn't sleep for three days leading up to it because I was so nervous!  

 BEING BRAVE!

These guys helped me get some courage. I didn't want them to think I was a wimp!  Hah

 While we waited, I saw a couple of girls who were about 9 or 10 years old folding the parachutes. I asked what they were doing and one of the workers told me they were packing the chutes!!!  Yes!!! CHILDREN packed my chute that my life depends on!!! That is when it got real!  I started praying even harder!  

FAREWELL MY LOVED ONES!!!

  You get to a point where you just have to let the fright go. You have to just go with the flow and relax and enjoy the experience and leave the worries of what could go wrong on the earth. I was somehow able to do that for the most part.

My tandem guy was a stunt man and had jumped out of planes in movies as a stunt double a LOT. I think he had over 3000 jumps!  He tried to talk me into doing a spin when we jumped. I said, "NO!"  But my persuasive son Sky, was able to also talk me into doing that!  I finally said, "OK! But ONLY ONE!!"  My tandem guy promised me he would only do one. 

 GERONIMO!!! Taylor and Bryce bailed out before me. It happens so fast!  You don't have time to think!  It's get on board and JUMP!  That fast!  Sky wanted to watch me so he went last. The terror on my face is real!!! 

 My guy lied! We didn't do one spin....we did SEVEN!!! In fact we were spinning the entire free fall!!!  But I survived! 

 Once my chute opened, I was in HEAVEN!  I was so relived that I wasn't going to die!!!  It was the coolest thing in the world!  So peaceful and relaxing looking down upon the earth!!!  

My ears did hurt for a while but eventually they adjusted. Oh wow!! I can't even describe the feeling. I am SO GLAD I DID IT!!! Right now I have no desire to do it again anytime soon, but what a great thing to experience!

 THE VIEW WAS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!

I was trying to HANG TEN the whole time. Haha  My mind was gone and my hands just stayed in that position practically the whole time. LOL

 The landing was pretty fun too. You come in SO fast but then you slow down just before you hit.

 Taylor and Bryce landed before me and Sky landed after me.

 YES!!! 
I DID IT!!!

 And I lived to tell about it!

 Sky was pretty proud of me!  I have to say I was as well!  Hah

What a way to WELCOME 50!!!

Now what am I going to do welcome in 60???!!!