goofballs

the best thing about traveling with my family is that we are all a bunch of dorks, and when we are together many dorky things happen. it probably gets pretty downright obnoxious for those around us, but we do try our darndest to put the lid on it by quiet time.

here are some of our ridiculous exploits.

#1. at a gas stop on the road trip through nevada, i tried to toss darin the car keys and maybe, just maybe tossed them up on the roof instead. not just the first level over the doorway, but all the way up on the big rooftop. came outta left field. joey had to borrow a ladder and go up, then pull the ladder onto the rooftop of the entranceway and go up again another level to fetch them on the scalding metal roof. i looked on, chagrined.

#2. we seem to take a lotta pictures in front of bathrooms.

#3. when my three brothers get together, they are hilarious. they make fun of each other and do weird tricks with their bodies.

we got a kick of how freakishly ripped joey is here.

#4. as for us girls, taking a lesson from bella, we like to call everything a party. this particular campground party night we had leis, candy treats, and a ridiculous brand of fun all our own.

 #5. my pops' famous dive. no one knows what he was trying to accomplish with this amazing leap, but i am so glad i captured it on film. in our tent late that night we zoomed in and looked at darin's appalled face close up and had a laugh attack that woke everyone up.

#6. overall, we are known to wear pretty ridiculous hiking gear. addie, in particular, is infamous for her granny visor and fanny pack. she wears these without a touch of irony. usually there is a lone cold modelo inside the fanny pack, stashed away for some blissful trail moment. bella might wear sparkly ballet flats, a minnie mouse cap over side buns and a homemade princess crown, always the classy lady.

amy made fun of herself for her "mom shorts" but i thought they were really pretty darn cute.

  

now, emily has espoused a certain rounded bonnet cap for hiking. in it, she looks about eight years old.

#7. jarom nonchalantly walked away during the family picture. then nonchalantly returned. all caught on camera.

 #8. we take every opportunity at playground or swingset. yes, mostly the adults.

#8. we love cats obsessively. we about lost our shit when we met "snowflake," resident field-mouser of the camp at Kodachrome basin and an absolute lovey dove. we took our turns oohing and ahhing and petting and sighing blissfully.

dorksome #9. in general we romp, frolic and gallivant with gusto.

all this paints a happy, silly, funtimes picture which IT IS. but of course, another truth of it is...we are a big wild family and things get crazy sometimes. people get grumpy, greedy, needy, impatient, selfish, annoying, quarrelsome. people pout; misunderstandings sprout, people have to go off on abrupt walks, we grumble.

 

but when all is said and done, we are merrymakers extraordinaires and i am achingly glad to be a part of it all!

FUN and beauty and nature and love...all the best things about life!