Daddy Daughter Overnight Hike and Chocolate

Jonathan took Kylie on a hike up the mountains behind our home on the north side of town the weekend of Halloween.  I won't lie...I wasn't excited about it one bit.  I was fearful for their safety and I knew Jonathan wouldn't follow all of my rules while on the hike.  The hike is on an incline the entire way and I wasn't sure Kylie would be able to hang especially after being up just 2 nights prior having herself a good ol' puke fest.  I didn't know how I'd be able to get a hold of him if he didn't have cell service, and what about snakes or mountain lions?  He eventually confessed that he wasn't going to take a tent.  I kinda pouted, so he took it.  I did wonder deep down though will he really use this?

Well, I got over it realizing I wasn't going to keep him from going with my baby, and concluded this is yet another reason it takes 2 parents to raise kids...the risky parent and the cautious parent usually even each other out.  THANKFULLY he had cell service the entire time and kept me posted through their hike up and back.  Kylie suggested they take Bailey the morning they left.  Why hadn't we thought of that?

Time to go!  Its 2pm and he was hoping to make it up by 5pm.

 This is a mistake.... love mommy.

3 hours later, they made it to the top with the help of a few candy bars.  Jonathan calculated it was about an average 6% incline up the mountain.  We guessed the pack to weigh about 50 pounds.  He did tell me at one point he had wondered what he got himself into and his steps were literally one foot in front of the other.

 Its getting dark, so lets eat and go to sleep.

 You will notice, no tent.  A few hours after going to "bed", Jonathan felt Kylie scratching her hand, so he set up the tent.  Mosquitoes and her don't mix.  I KNEW he wasn't going to set it up!!

Desert morning.

Heading back so we can make it to church.  It took them only 2 hours to get down.  Bailey was not happy in the morning and that had him a little worried.  She whined and it took her a bit to get going.

So he put socks on her to help her deal with the terrain.

You can see the Strip mid picture.

Our development over the rise in the wash.  Bailey lost a sock and was unable to walk for 2 days.  She sat on her bed and slept, but she's fine now.

As for Jonathan, his blisters are still healing.  Luckily Ava wanted no part in this hike, so he's not sure if it'll happen again in the near future.

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What did the little girls and I do that afternoon/night?  Well, they watched a movie and then we made some goodies.

 Placing smoked almonds in the muffin tin for turtles.

1st attempt at making caramel.

Time for the rewards of all her hard work rolling out truffles.

Don't bug me, I'm busy.

Where is Juliet in all this chocolate fun?  Well, she's not eating her dinner, again, so she gets to watch from a distance.  She wasn't happy, she just naturally smiles when I pull out the camera.

The red would be Gatorade from her soccer game earlier that morning.

Yay for chocolate!!