Sunday, May 08, 2011

My two sons, why I am a proud, happy mama.

On Saturday mornings, each son boulders at the newer location of The Circuit Bouldering Gym, 410 NE 17th Avenue. I walked over yesterday and took photos so that I could share them with y'all on Mother's Day. I won't pretend to understand the thought process and decision making that goes along with the strength, flexibility, and determination necessary for bouldering. I shall instead appreciate it.

I took lots of photos of both of them. Leland, my younger son, climbed first.
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Looking up.

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Heading up the wall.

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Changing direction.

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Hanging. Thinking.

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This way?

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Back to hanging.

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Left it is.

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Steady.

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And ...

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...up!

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He's a good-lookin', strong man. I am so proud.

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What is he looking for so intently?

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Where will this motion take him?

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Now we know. And he's already getting ready for his next move.

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Concentration.

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Looking to make sure his toe is placed correctly. He is climbing the problem/route with the blue tabs.

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Reaching.

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Precarious?

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Left hand heading for the top. I expected him to crawl on up and go down some stairs that I couldn't see. Little did I know that this particular portion has no such way down.

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You touch the top, of course, and begin to think about getting down.

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Swiveling to place his right foot on the left side of his body. Gosh.

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There's the hold for his foot! It's not on the blue tab, but I suppose it doesn't matter on the way down.

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Inching his way down.

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What a stretch!

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Where is his foot going so quickly?

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Getting closer.

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Looks sort of like ballet on the wall to me. I doubt Leland would agree with my opinion.

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A split-second change of position.

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Let me assure you, he is not about to jump the rest of the way.

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I wonder if looking down so much makes his neck hurt. I'll have to remember to ask him.

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The last step?

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Yes. He's down. Others are talking and pointing. Leland looks back up the wall where he's just climbed. Cool.

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Now for Lamont, my older son. He started to the right of where Leland had climbed.

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He's climbing the green tab route.

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Heading up the wall.

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Grabbing hold.

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Stretching for the next foot hold.

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Still stretching.

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There it is, the foot hold he wanted to reach!

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Where will he go next?

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Ah. There he goes.

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About this moment, I remember thinking, "I gave birth to a couple of Spider Men!"

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Lamont reaches for the top with his right hand and moves his left foot off the hold.

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He's a good lookin' strong man. I am so proud.

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Heading down now?

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Yep, heading down the wall.

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He's a long-legged guy, this older son of mine. Long period. Takes after my Daddy's Daddy.

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Not there yet.

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He's made a decision on where to put his left foot.

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He'snot holding on with his right knee, just his hands and feet!

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Moving according to plan.

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Still working on getting down the wall.

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See what I mean about Spider Man?

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Another deceptively small looking step.

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He's close now.

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And...

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...he's down!

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