Hard Things Make Great Memories (Sometimes)

Sometimes we think it's fun to do hard things.  

Pouakai Crossing is not an official "Great Walk" of New Zealand, although it's been under discussion.  Most locals want to keep flying under the radar.   

At the trailhead 

Day 1 - Awesome views 

Overnight at the Holly Hut.  

Inside the Holly Hut with other hikers

Day 2, the forecast called for rain.  I thought it would be intermittent - but that was Utah-girl thinking.  
The rain was not intermittent, but a solid downpour all day, with strong gusts of wind to boot. We walked through water up to our ankles most of the way out.  

Luckily it wasn't slippery or too cold.  Just wet.  The weather was terrible...but memorable.

Splashing along the trail. 

Noah's perspective on the whole adventure ("Man Up!) can be found at JustForTheAdventure.    

So the following weekend, we decided to take on a different challenge:  the Around the Mountain Relay with the Ellingtons, Sagarin-Webbs, and Bishops.  100 miles.  Since the weather was nice, we made our life difficult (and memorable) by being the part of our team that started the race at 2:30AM. 

Mike took this picture

Oak ran the first leg, which started at 2:30AM, and our whole family was there to cheer him on.  Oak also ran a long middle leg, and then happened to also run the final leg which brought our team all the way back where we started.  We finished at 3:30PM.

Youngest kids on our team ran one 3K leg together.  Mercy in pink.
 

I'm thankful that we have been able to choose most of our challenges in life so far.  

John

John is staying with us for a few weeks to finish his exams here before going to Tonga for the summer with his family.  He helped us out by running two legs.  

Other random pictures from the week:

Q&A after a recital

a good girl

Last Night of the Proms - I've never been to a concert quite like it.  It was fun to sing and wave a flag.  

Danny, Oak and Dom in the percussion section.  

  

Books of the Week:

Thanks, Jen!  Wow.

I'm going to underline my favorite lines and give a copy to each of our two oldest boys.