Back to the Beginning...

Mary Poppins (aka the Nanny) offered us a treat this past weekend. She hosted a kids sleepover for our kids with a few other kids, which meant Ryan and I had an evening and a morning off from kid-duties!!

It was a last minute plan and we took the opportunity to play out our kid-free evening on a whim. Should we go out for dinner? maybe Thai food since it usually has nuts and we can't take Liam..or should we take the extra time to get more things done on our extra long to-do list? We decided to go rock climbing! Yes, yes. Ryan does go rock climbing regularly. And yes, yes, so do I. And in fact, both of us had climbed on our own time the day before... But we never ever get to go climb together anymore, and the few times we have, it was with kids.. which usually means no rock climbing.

Rock climbing with Ryan was such a treat! Back in the day, prior to kids, prior to dating.. Ryan and I were mere friends that would meet up after work (~6pm) and work on climbing problems for HOURS until the gym closed, at 11pm. In fact, the workers at the gym would have to kick us out. I remember watching him climb with such finesse, and trying to learn the techniques that he displayed. My skills improved significantly back then climbing with Ryan, in part because I learn from watching such a great climber, but also because he inspired me to work through difficult climbs and try different approaches.

Our evening climbing together did exactly that. It inspired me again, to climb smarter, to climb harder as I watched my now hubby climb with such skill. I tend not to climb as hard by myself.. fall short when I really can do more. This evening, my hands were burning red... callouses were forming near the finger joints and palm.. and when I clenched my fist, I could feel the pulsating of my heartbeat in my hands. Now THAT is how a good rock climbing session should feel!