Bravery

Anyone who knows my daughter knows that she really isn't the "Jump off of a cliff" type. She has a long list of fears, and it always makes me worried that she will miss life because she is afraid.

But this summer, she's been tough about a lot of stuff. Here's some of the recent fears checked off the list:

1. Amusement park rides: She used to only go on the horses "that don't go up and down," and did not want to go near any others. I don't have a good picture of the carousel she totally rode by herself at the fair, but I did get her in the boat.

From Teton Park and fair

2. Caving: I don't think this was an active fear of hers, but she was awfully timid going into the Indian Tunnel cave, but she said she would try it. Here she is going in. Sorry about the devil eyes.

From craters 2010

Here she is coming out. After she climbed those rocks out of the cave, she was on cloud nine, saying, "No 3-year old has ever done that! I'm so big!" and chattering the whole way back to the trail.

From craters 2010

Last, but not least, the cliff. Anne Marie climbed this:

From Teton Park and fair

It was impressive to me. We hiked about a mile to the overlook, much of it straight up. She had some trouble on the way down, but was a total champion on the way up.

From Teton Park and fair

Here she is on top with Grandma:

From Teton Park and fair

Thomas made it too.

From Teton Park and fair

And afterwards, she got the sweet satisfaction that comes from putting your feet in the water after a good hike.

From Teton Park and fair