One of my favorite things to do is to take my kiddos on a hike.  Usually when I mention it, they all kind of grumble, but once we get out there, they are in heaven.  They love running up and down the trail and usually log about twice as many miles as I do.  We turn over logs and check out bugs, we find springs and dam them up to see how the run off adapts (and then take it apart), they skip rocks if we are near water and we always have our eyes peeled for wildlife or at least signs of animals (poop).

We started hiking with Sam when he was just a few weeks old.  It really is so calming to me. I love the wind through the trees, the birds chirping and the lack of civilization all together.

Now, hiking with four kids does not always equal calm but we do our best to get away and just enjoy nature.  HEY MOM!!!!!  CHECK OUT THIS ANIMAL LEG BONE……SOMETHING BIG MUST HAVE GNAWED ON IT!!!!!  

Through the years, as our kiddos have progressed from the baby front pack to the back pack to walking alone, we have definitely learned some valuable lessons when it comes to hiking.  We have had some serious fails and a whole lot of wins so we are learning what works.

Always take lots of water.  Up here in the Colorado mountains, we lack oxygen and moisture.  You can get dehydrated very quickly.  All of our kids have hydration packs (backpack with water reservoir).  The packs are also super awesome for hauling all their gear and then you don’t have to carry it.  Super rad.

Always take lots of snacks.  Even if you just ate a seven course meal, your kids will claim to be famished about 1/4 mile into any hike.  Trust me, I have learned this the hard way.  And they don’t forget that they are hungry.  Nope. Never.

Along with snacks, never ever EVER overlook a meal.  If you are hiking over the lunch hour, bring sandwiches.  Just sayin’.  Been there, done that. Won’t do it again.

Everyone must wear a hat with a brim.  Hats are not only important to keep the sun off your noggin but also are great when a rain cloud opens up.  When that happens it doesn’t usually come with some sprinkles.  Think cold soaking rain for about 10 minutes.  Every afternoon up here.  It only takes getting caught once and then you remember the gear.

Layers.  Layers. Layers.  Whenever you see pictures of my kids hiking they usually have a sweatshirt or coat on or tied around their waist.  Depending on the time of day and length of your hike, take packable rain coats.

Reasonable hiking shoes.  Our kids usually wear their running shoes or hiking boots.  Be prepared for mud.  Kids are mud magnets.  They will find it, trust me.  We have embraced the mud but if you aren’t prepared for it, wet feet can ruin any hike. In our greener years, we may have been persuaded into letting our kids hike in other footwear (flip-flops, chucks, clogs, sandals, crocs, etc.).  Don’t let them wear you down.  I can guarantee one thing; it will end with a child on your back.

Try to make your jaunt in the woods a destination hike.  We mostly hike to lakes or waterfalls or at least places that will thrill our kids.  We want them to go again.

I could strap on my camera and head out into the woods for hours.  I am never in a hurry to head back to the car.  My kids don’t always feel that way and neither do their little legs:)  Remember to keep track of the length especially if you are hiking out and back.  My kids are super-duper hikers but it took awhile for them to build up to a few miles.  If you are just starting out, try to keep it fun and just go for a mile or so.

Well, the grandmas and papas have probably scrolled down to the pictures by now:) so I will stop rambling and give you the visual of our most recent hike.  We love our hikes to Lilypad Lake so this past weekend we tried a new way in.  We all loved the change of scenery, so to speak, with the same destination.

Beginning our hike through a decimated pine beetle kill forest but a beautiful view of Buffalo  Mountain. Daddy showed us the route he took skiing.  Crazy daddy.

A gorgeous view of Lake Dillon.

Hat, sweatshirt, hiking shoes, snack.  She is prepared:)

Jesse gets to hike too!

Daddy and kids checking out a spring just off the trail.  Soon to be a dammed up spring:)

Sam taking time for another well deserved snack!

I hope you are all loving this warm spring weather (finally!!!!) and getting outside.  We are super excited to be able to hike and bike and camp and……well, you get the picture.

Jennifer

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is only one thing better than being out in nature, riding your bike, enjoying the thrills of the downs and the victories of the uphill.

Watching your kids do it.

Today, Scott and I were down a couple of kids (parties) so we took Sam and Paige out riding on the Frisco Peninsula.  Since it was their first ride of the season we took a safe, three-mile loop.  They both did great.  Paige got a bit frustrated but I think she will feel better when her legs stop yelling:)  She really has no meat on her tiny legs and they were working hard!  There is nothing cuter than Paige in bike shorts:)

When we finished our loop, we headed downtown for some lunch.  After lunch, Scott and Sam (and another friend) headed back to the peninsula for one more loop.  Paige and I were getting tired so we headed for home.

It was a fantastic day to be outside.  We have been cursed blessed with a very long winter this year.  It snowed yesterday, in case you were wondering.  So it seems that Mother Nature has granted us some warmer spring weather and I do believe that we will be taking advantage of it for as long as it lasts.

My new bike.  Isn’t she pretty.  I really like her.  She is bad@!#.

Happy Saturday. Enjoy the day. And if you complain about it being too hot, I might punch you in the face.

Jennifer

That is pretty much all I can say right now.

I turned around and this boy….

 

has turned into this big kid…..

 

I feel like we blinked and he is already done with elementary school.

Middle school.

Wow.

This kid is growing up.

Wow.

 

It definitely goes way too fast for this momma. That is for sure.

 

Yes, that is the name of the picnic.

Every year, one of the second grade teachers invites all the second graders and their families out to her horse ranch in Fairplay for a day full of fun.  There were horse rides, lunch, a seed spitting contest and lots of other “ranchy” stuff.  The kids were running from the minute we arrived and didn’t stop until we hit the car.  It was a great day for all.

This was the only picture of Paige (our second grader) from the whole day.  She was so busy with her friends that I couldn’t get her to stand still for a picture.  I guess she had a good time:)

Mrs. B told Sam that he was a natural on the horse.  He told me that his knuckles turned white because he was so afraid he might fall off.

I love Mason’s little face in this picture.  He was waiting his turn at the sunflower seed spitting contest.

Alice and her two besties, Adam and Lilly.  Where they go, so does she.  We are so happy that she has made two awesome friends.  The three musketeers, for sure.

Even Scott got in on the seed spitting action.  The parent competition got pretty heated:)

It was a fantastic day for all of us.  The weather has been gorgeous and the days long and sunny.  We are blessed to live in this beautiful place, surrounded by such wonderful people.  Blessed indeed.

Jennifer

Today, along with 3 other 5th graders from his school, Samuel was give an award from the Elks Lodge of Summit County for outstanding achievement in academics and citizenship.  His teacher nominated him and his principal and both fifth grade teachers came to give out the awards. We were so proud of Sam.  Momma was pretty teary.  He is such an awesome, cool, bright, kind kid.  He also still gives the best hugs.  We love you Mr. Man.

 

Quickly approaching the last day of school. I am not kidding when I say it is a race to the end.   My mind and my calendar as swirling with picnics, field trips, promotions, gifts, parties and ceremonies.  I think I can, I think can…..

Is it nap time yet?

Jennifer

 

Paigie had her end of the year dance recital tonight.  She takes a combination dance class at the rec center in Silverthorne.  They have a great program that is fun and very low-key.  Right up our alley:)   Paige’s class danced four routines including ballet, tap and hip hop.  She did a great job and we were very proud of her.  She is very timid and isn’t a fan of being in front of people so for her to get up on stage is a huge accomplishment.   The pictures were horrible so here are just a couple.  She has another performance tomorrow for one of the elementary schools.  I will try to get some better shots then. Getting ready.  I am not a huge fan of performance make-up but I did let her wear a little blush and mascara. She was pumped! I think her favorite thing about the recital (besides the blush and mascara) were the flowers.   She danced her little heart out and we could not have been prouder of our girl.

Jennifer

Well, we are quickly rounding out the school year and the end is approaching.  Doesn’t it kind of come on like one big downhill on your bike.  You really want to finish strong but you know the end is like a free fall with a lot of bumps.  By this point we are all so ready to be done.  Done with homework, packing lunches, keeping track of those pesky library books and on and on……

In two weeks my first-born baby boy will be graduating from 5th grade and I gotta admit that while we Sam is totally ready for middle school, I am a bit sad that he is already becoming a big kid.  Everybody says it and at times you crave it and wish time would move more quickly, but the little kid years do go by way too fast.

Sooo, yesterday was the first day that it was nice enough in the morning to bike to school.  Thank goodness because it was Bike to School Day.  I love this day.  All over town kids are riding their little hearts out.  When I got to school, I counted three cars in the parking lot.  Love. It.

By Paige’s bike computer we are exactly one semi flat mile to school.  It is a perfect ride and takes us about 8 minutes as long as we have no collisions or catastrophes (with four kids, it happens).

It is always such a great start to our day when we bike to school.   It really minimizes the squabbling in the back seat 🙂

 

Happy Friday.  Everybody take a deep breath.  Only two more weeks of school.  We can make it 🙂

Jennifer

I hope you all had a fantastic Mother’s Day!  We spent the day working in the yard and getting it all ready for summer.  Please don’t snow….please don’t snow….please don’t snow….

Now that I am working a few days a week and Scott is working more than ever with unpredictable hours, we don’t get a lot of time alone without kids in tow.  So, we try to get out for some alone time while the kids are in school, which usually happens on Thursday or Friday mornings.  Usually we go out for a run but yesterday we were ready for some warmer weather and riding bikes.

We headed down to Denver for some mountain biking and lunch.  We started at the Green Mountain trailhead in west Denver.  Right off the bat, we were headed up the trail.  And more up.  And more….well, you get the picture.  The views were beautiful from the top and I was wishing that I had my big camera.  You could see all of Denver and it seemed that we were higher than even the airplanes.  After much deliberation on getting down this mountain, we found a route that I could work with.  Once down, I was much happier and had fun playing around with my new bike.  We even got a bit muddy:)

After changing and cleaning up we headed into Golden for a quick lunch.  We ate at this little Thai restaurant right downtown.  I am not sure if it was super yummy or if I was famished after riding my bike into the sky 🙂  Actually, we both enjoyed our lunch and will definitely go back.

Anyway, we had a great day together.  We laughed, I cried (a little) and we loved our day without the kiddies.  And we wore sandals.  I know, right?!!??

Jennifer