Rock Climbing.

Cousins!  Matthew, Ian and Sam

Our nephew Matthew just turned 10 years old.  His birthday party was at EarthTreks in Rockville, MD.  This was a great opportunity for Sam to try out rock climbing.  She had never been before and made the minimum weight by 1 pound.  We were prepared with her iPad as back-up entertainment if she didn't enjoy it.

Wow!  What an afternoon!!  Sam took to rock climbing like a fish takes to water.  She was surrounded by 9 and 10 year old boys and completely held her own.  As soon as she came down from climbing, she got right back in line and waited for her turn again.  She loved it!  It helps that Sam has no fear.  Plus, she loved being treated like a big kid. 

Sam getting in her harness.

That's Sam on the left!

Ian, on the other hand, has a major fear of heights and will get about 3/4's of the way up and then freeze.  Literally, he'll realize just how high he's gotten and can no longer function.  He'll start shaking and his voice will quiver that he needs to come down now.  If anyone tries to convince him that he can make it to the top, he bursts into tears and you know, there is no other option for him but to come down.

The key for Ian is to be blindfolded!  He will happily wear a blindfold and climb to the top of any height.  It is an amazing sight to behold.  Ian not only climbed on the 'easy' track of the wall, but also tackled a very challenging cliff type wall -- all blindfolded. 

Without blindfold, this is as high as Ian will go. That's Sam on the left, by the way.

With blindfold, that's Ian at the top!

Here's Ian at the top (blindfolded) doing a much more difficult climb.

 

 

It was a great party and the kids had a ball. A big THANK YOU to my wonderful sister-in-law Elaine who said Sam could give rock climbing a try.  It has opened up a new world for her.