anniversary part 1

{friday july 18}

This year it was my turn to plan our anniversary! So that morning RJ woke up with a clue on his bedside table leading him to our first activity for the day. It read this: (I forgot to take a pic of it! oops)

Up to the place where it all began,

Where you got down on one knee & asked for my hand.

Overlooking a view that spans from the East to the West,

 Where the angels lay their heads to rest. 

Guessed it? The people of the NW should get this one....Angel's Rest hiking trail! I thought it would be fun to go to the spot where RJ proposed & have a picnic lunch! So we packed up the kiddos, dropped them off with Lola & a hiking we went!

2.3mil uphill! UGH!!! haha!

So we are hiking along & we come to this really pretty creek that cascades over some rocks. RJ went around one side of a tree to get closer to take a photo & I go on the other side. And just has I am about to step down something black catches the corner of my eye & IT MOVES........I shriek "OH ####!"

Why hello Mr. snake!!!! This thing was HUGE! A big black snack w/ 2 yellow stripes down it. (I swear it ate hikers for dinner but RJ says that I am just exaggerating a bit!) I stumbled backwards as fast as I possibly could meanwhile hurdling over a huge boulder and just about took a tumble off the side of the trail! good times! My heart was pounding. As if you couldn't tell by now, I am terrified of the lil buggers! So for the remainder of the hike, RJ went in front to scare of any other encounters! (& we did encounter another! cripes!)

This trail is so beautiful (minus the snakes!). Lush green trees surround you & little lookout areas peak out over the Gorge. It's absolutely breath taking. 

Some dorky hikers we met along the trail! haha!!

Almost at the top! no more lush trees but huge rocks shaped by the infamous East wind.

We came to this clearing & decided it would be a fantastic spot for our picnic. By this time I was STARVING!!! 

Another perfect time to give the hubby his 2nd clue...

Stroll along the streets of the Pearl,

Hand in hand with your favorite girl.

Stopping to wine & dine at a little brasserie,

Where the fennel is the inspiration for the cuisine.

To celebrate the 5 years as husband & wife,

Cheers to our wonderful, love-filled life!

Our lil table top!

The view...amazing

While eating our lunch some other hikers (who didn't look like they were NWer's) stopped to ask us if that indeed was the "angel's rest" where we were at. Nope I replied. The top is not too far....keep going.....out of breath, they hung their heads & kept trudging forward! haha! 

But it's so worth it!!! It's simply amazing up there! 

God's beautiful creation...

We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful area as this. We had a wonderful time hiking (even though my legs are a tad sore!!) & spending time in the wonderful outdoors, reliving the moment where our lives together began....