becoming someone: Mountain Woman

Showing posts with label Mountain Woman. Show all posts

Becoming a Mountain Woman

We took the Young Women in our ward hiking to some beautiful waterfalls this week.

I love working with them.

The most entertaining part was when an 11-year-old Scout group got stuck behind us, and we got to enjoy their conversation. It went something like this:

"Eddie just farted!"
"When I fart, it's like an explosion!"
"I'm going to fart in the waterfall, and there are going to be bubbles everywhere!"

I laughed so hard. I haven't been around little boys in a long time, and they cracked me completely up.

Becoming a Dog Owner

We took Copper hikin and fishin last weekend. He did great and loved trying to ~~dismember~~ catch the fish. A random guy on the hike said, "He's like a real dog but in fun size."

We heart him.

Becoming a Mountain Woman: Shooting

I always used to win two truths and a lie by saying, "I'm from Idaho, but I've never touched a gun." Although true, no one ever believed me! Then I met Landon Paul...and I not only touched but shot some guns. It was pretty epic. This weekend we went shooting with some friends and had a blast.

Here's Renae shooting in the rain...

Chris

Landon Paul

And yours truly-between graduation, shooting, and Easter, it was a great weekend!

Becoming a Mountain Woman: Show Shoeing

Landon Paul and I usually stay pretty busy in the summers, but last week we realized that we have become total shut-ins lately. So, we decided to get out and go show shoeing!

For Landon Paul, being in the outdoors is all about relaxing. For me, it's all about the views. Look at those mountains!

It got really fun when we went off the beaten trail. We followed this stream (Or crick depending on what floats your fancy-floats! Haha, I digress) that was usually frozen but every once in a while broke through the ice. It was so cool (Punny)!

We'll definitely go again. It's a great workout, a great date, and a great way to see how pretty winter can be. What's your favorite winter activity?

Becoming a Mountain Woman: Waterfalls

Saturday morning we took the kids on a "hike." It was a paved trail to see these pretty waterfalls. Have I mentioned how much I love waterfalls? I'm obsessed. They're just gorgeous. It was funny having Landon Paul drive the van, me sitting in the front seat, and having all the "kids" in the back. Made me feel slightly looking-glassy, "Behold our future?" We had fun.


So pretty!

Scandal!

Cute!

Becoming a Mountain Woman: Backpacking

This weekend I went where only a true mountain woman would go: On an 6-mile overnight backpacking adventure. I had never been backpacking before, but it was grand.

We went with great friends. We enjoyed an intense incline. (We’ll probably be sore for weeks).

We had the exciting opportunity to battle thunder, lightning, rain, and hail. (It was only slightly terrifying).

We camped by pretty pretty waterfalls.

We had a blast.

Becoming Bear Grylls: Frog in Boiling Water

When Landon Paul and I were dating, he took me to Cabella’s. I had obviously never been, and he wanted to show me the wonderment of all things outdoors. It's a mighty impressive place. I’m not their target market, and I don’t get the thrill that Landon Paul and others do by it, but it was a good broadening my horizons/understanding men kind of event. He took me to the shooting area where you could shoot fake guns at fake animals for points and taught me how to hold and shoot the thing. It was quite the moment since the only gun I’d ever touched was full of water.

Cabellas

As we walked out to the car, I told Landon Paul, "This reminds me of that story about the frog in boiling water." (You know the story. It’s the one where the frog doesn’t realize the temperature is being slowly turned up until it has been boiled to death. People tell it to explain that people who are trying to get you to do something you’re not supposed to start with little things and before you know it, it turns into big things).

It was massive!

I was right. A few months later, I was shooting real guns. Well, this weekend was my turn. I’ve always had a love/passion/obsession with Gilmore Girls. I always have a disc in the DVD player, and when I come home, I watch an episode as I clean and make dinner. I go through all of the seasons and then start from the beginning again. Landon Paul has never fully appreciated Gilmore Girls, but this weekend, as I was folding laundry, he sat down and watched/folded with me. When the laundry was done, he didn’t move. He continued to watch until the end. HE EVEN LAUGHED WHILE WATCHING! Apparently I have some frog in boiling water skills up my sleeve, too! :)

Becoming Bear: (Grylls That Is)

For Landon Paul's birthday, we went campin and fishin (Not camping and fishing :)) on the gorgeous lake shown below.

Before I met Landon Paul, I had never been camping or fishing...or held a gun. Growing up, my sisters and I used to setup the tent in the backyard with an extension cord and TV and watch chick flicks, but that was as far as my mountain woman ways went. Landon Paul loves all things outdoors, and thankfully, I've discovered, I really like it, too!

(I also didn't know who Bear Grylls was, but now I know it's the man my man wants to be like-the guy is INSANE!)

Convincing me that I like the outdoors was no small task for Landon Paul, but men, you can convince your lady friend that she likes it, too. If you want your female friend to do outdoorsy things with you, do what Landon Paul does.

1. Never ever make your lady friend touch a fish.

2. Never ever make your lady friend kiss a fish.

3. Never ever make your lady friend start a fire.

4. Never ever make your lady friend feel like camping is work. (Yes, you'll have to do most of it).

5. Tell your lady friend that camping is a couple's getaway for much less $$ than a legit vaca.

6. Say things like, "You would LOVE this lake!"

7. Pack the car.

8. Count camping trips as vacations.
9. Make special traditions on your outdoors adventures. Landon Paul and I always get a candy (I get Fun Dip; he gets Twizzlers) for the road and go to the same small town drive-in on our way out.
10. Tell her often how big the fish is that she caught. (She doesn't do the outdoors. She won't know you're lyin!)
11. Have fun! I'm always surprised, but I really do enjoy it!