El Dorado Hills and Lots of Activity

Lacy, Eleanor and I came down I-5 to El Dorado Hills on Wednesday, about 180 miles south of Redding.  I'd volunteered to 'babysit' the triplets, 15 in November, for a few days.  Their dad, David, was in Las Vegas for a business convention until last night. And, their mom, my daughter Kari, and her business partner were left Wednesday afternoon to fly to Arizona, where they are doing another spectacular feat of exercise:  a 26-mile hike beginning on the north rim down to, and across, the canyon floor and Colorado River; then up the walls to the south rim.

Grand Canyon - North Rim (left), canyon floor and Colorado River, South 

This hike used to be a yearly event; but, it's no longer legal due to the number of rescues the Park Service had to make each year.  In order to accomplish this feat, Kari and her friend Andrea, had to apply for a Special Use Permit from Grand Canyon National Park.  As I've mentioned so often in my posts, Kari is an incredible athlete.  She's considering this hike as a long training day in preparation for her Ironman event that will take place in Cozumel, Mexico on November 30th.

Kari and Andrea are now, as I write, hopefully past the half-way mark in this endeavor.  I'll have to post how they've done - when I find out!  I believe they began their trek at about 5 this morning an hope to complete the challenge by sunset this evening.  As I recall they were to begin at an elevation of about 8,000 feet, hike down to the Colorado River, at about 2,000 feet, cross the river and canyon bottom and then hike up to the south rim, which is about a 6,000 foot climb.

Life in their household continues at full tilt, parents here or not.  I feel that babysitting for three almost 15-year old high school Freshmen is more labor-intensive than when they were ten!  They're all very active in sports and extracurricular activities, as well as taking full loads of subjects in school.  And, although they're triplets, they have three different schedules for class hours, etc.  The driving taxi service that I'm providing is very close to a full-time position.  Since Wednesday I've driven close to 200 miles just back and forth to school and activities.  Thank goodness each kid is responsible for his own laundry; I haven't done any.  But, cooking for three voracious appetites, is also almost full-time work; it seems like they're eating non-stop - because they are eating non-stop! Kari and David have always believed that if they keep their kids very busy they won't have time to head down a wrong path; so far, it's worked wonderfully with the three older girls, all of whom are either on their own completely, or in college and living in a dorm.  Certainly as far as I know, there have been no teen problems other than the occasional heart breaks, moodiness and melt-downs that happen to us all inn getting through those teen years!

Earlier today I made a huge pot of minestrone and a large apple crisp. My son, Jeff, and my twin granddaughters, Malia and Samantha, will arrive from Cottonwood this evening to spend the weekend here.  The twins have a soccer game tomorrow in Elk Grove, about 30 miles from here.  Then Jeff and Kari, if she lives through today's hike, will do a long training bike ride on Sunday.  Remember, it's the two of them who will compete in Cozumel - together.  I'm so looking forward to that; all 'my' family will be there, even my ex-husband and his wife are planning to be in the cheering gallery for the brother-sister team.

I am really enjoying the kids and am amazed at how fast they grow up. It just goes by so fast, but other than when all five of the now 14-year olds were still in diapers, they're a really fun group of kids and I'm thrilled to be their Mimi.