Multi-Family Adventures

This past weekend for the very first time we went hiking with a couple other families.  Funny that we have really never done that before (despite knowing it can be great fun)!  We have certainly hiked/skied with other people, but not families with kids.

We had six kids between us (all under the age of 8), three dogs and a gloriously beautiful "spring" day  (quotations around spring because winter is far from being over here in the mountains.)

We definitely had our share of falling, whining, laughing, whining, jumping, whining, exploring, whining, and lots of great peer pressure....oh and whining.  It really wasn't that bad, but we have to be honest here: all kids are not going to be great troopers for a three hour hike (and that is ok!)

Cross Country Skiing for Kids

We do a lot of different kinds of skiing in our family.

Cross country in the backcountry is my favorite.  I love the workout, the peace, the silence (well, usually anyway...), and the fact that the hills are a bit more of just that: hills (not mountains!)  Mtn Papa is the one more into the Backcountry alpine skiing (hiking up with skis on for traction and then skiing down) but it is certainly growing on me.

Lately, J has been going with Daddy every chance he gets to practice downhill (AKA Alpine skiing.)  Now we are trying to convince him that cross country is fun too!

Let me first be clear that this is our first time trying to teach a kid to ski.  Poor "Guinea Pig", J!  We are certainly not experts, but it is always nice to hear what others have done!

Bad Outdoor Days just HAPPEN!

Sometimes things don't go entirely as planned....even in the small adventures at home.  It is frustrating, discouraging and definitely just life.  Someone please tell me I am not the only one who deals with mornings like the following:

I wake up in not the best mood (AKA downright grumpy) and tired from a sleepless night (think teething baby!)  I find myself taking it out on my kids within minutes.  I decide that for the good of all involved throughout the day, a morning run is something that HAS to happen.  Stat.  

Mtn Papa had to go into work early that morning, which means that any run will involve 3 of us plus the dog.  Not a huge deal, something I am pretty used to.

Kids fed.  Check.

Kids dressed and diapers changed.  Check.

Meltdown #1 handled (J wants to put music on and dance, I convince him he can dance in the Chariot with the iPod touch tunes.)  Check.

Teeth brushed.  Check.

Mama dressed.  Check.

Meltdown #2 handled (J wants more breakfast, I hand him a granola bar.)  Check.

J dressed in his snow gear.  17 degrees and windy.  Lots of layers required.  Check.

P is tired and begins to fuss (because we have now been awake almost 2 hours.)  Dress him in his warm gear anyway.  Check.

Mama's warm gear on.  Check.

All accounted for in the garage ready to load Chariot.  Check.

Chariot apparently needs repairs and I cannot get the running attachment on for the life of me (I will save you the details.)  P crying, J still wanting to dance, dog whining, biting my tongue.  Fail.

Making Time for the Outdoors.

We are all busy.  Everyone has jobs, family, work, cleaning, bills and things that just have to get done.

Yes, it is certainly cliche, but those things will be there later too.

One of the most difficult parts of getting outside is just getting out the door.  Believe me, I know.  With two kids, it is not unusual for it to take me 45 (FORTY-FIVE!) minutes to get out the door.  Snowsuits, hats, meltdowns, gloves, pacifiers, meltdowns, snacks, KLEENEX! (I have had that yelled at me a lot lately as we fight colds), CHANGE ME! (another fun one), meltdowns, bribes, meltdowns and a huge sigh as we all tumble out the door.

How can it be possible to have time to get outside every day (yes, I even ask myself this question...daily)?  And again, I will say, how is it NOT possible to make the time (for the good of all involved?)  It makes us happier as a family. 

Last Friday we planned a family hike/walk for as soon as Mountain Papa got home for work.  My job was to have myself and the kids ready to walk out the door when he arrived (again, not an easy feat.)  His job was to be home before dark.

We both carried a kid (thank you, Kelty and Deuter!) and spent 45 minutes in the badlands behind our home.  As a couple it gave us some time to decompress from the day (between talking with J and fielding his questions and comments, of course.)  It gave the boys some fresh air and chance to just watch (or sleep).  We are blessed to have such a landscape behind us, but there is certainly nothing wrong with a family walk around the neighborhood (and we have certainly done this too!)

Yes, I should have been making dinner (or planned well enough in advance to have that dinner ready to go.)  Yes, dinner was late.  Yes, I nearly gave up and decided fighting the meltdowns wasn't worth it.  But, the truth is we never regret being out there and things (almost) always calm down once we are.

How do you fit it in?  How do you make getting outside happen amidst the craziness of life? Any tips to share?

Making the Most of Failed Outings...

Yesterday was gorgeous.  It was the last day of vacation for us (meaning Daddy home!) and we were bound and determined to make the most of it (which meant not worrying about the state of the house at all and just getting outside.)  I, personally, was determined to ignore the signs of flu that had been nagging at me for the past 4 days.

We packed the boys up (no small feat) and made our way to skate ski into Brooks Lake Lodge (mentioned here in a previous post) for lunch.  On the drive out we commented on how perfect the day was.  This was to be our third time skiing into the lodge, but my first time NOT pregnant (and I was PSYCHED!!)

However, things didn't go as planned (and this time it wasn't because of the KIDS!)

If you have skate skied before, you know it is a lot of work.  I LOVE it, but getting my heart rate up was triggering my gag-reflux (along with flu aches and pains) and, determined as I was, there was no way I was going to make it the 5 miles in.

And so we bailed.  And then we had to explain to J WHY we weren't going to eat lunch that day at Brooks Lake.

To be honest, I was SUPER bummed.  I kept thinking it MUST be all in my head and I could certainly make it (I had done it 6 months pregnant before easily!)  I am stubborn like that.

Instead of just heading home right away, "Super Dad" helped J play in the snow (which he loved, of course) while I got my bearings back sitting in the car with P.

Sitting there, I was finally able to see that in reality, this wasn't a failure at all.  We were out there.  We got a 3.5 mile ski in (instead of the 10 we originally planned.)  The kids got to play in the snow and we were spending time as a family.  And those are the most important things of all.

Lesson of the day: Take account of the small accomplishments and enjoy them.  They certainly DO count!

When Adventures don't happen like they are supposed to....

We have had our fair share of attempts at getting outside and enjoying the family that have ended in frustration, crying kids and a less-than-ideal situation.  The reality is that those days just happen and we are slowly learning to not see it as a "failure" but rather a "learning experience".  Since Husband is a wild-land firefighter and summers are busy, most of our full-family adventures happen in the winter (and we do love our snow! :))  This winter will be a whole new experience with another baby around and a fuller load to haul, but we are determined :)

Here are some things we have learned the last couple of years:
- When it is windy (which it often is here) absolutely bring the Chariot - it provides wind protection and a lot happier kids.
- Bring way more clothing than you think you will need and layer up.

it was -20 degrees this time, so all the layers were a necessity and he stayed toasty warm!

- Investing in the good stuff (as far as winter clothing) for kids is worth it for your sanity.  But, if you get desperate and forget stuff, use that extra clothing you brought (J has worn our coats on occasion thanks to Mama's forgetfulness!)
- Better yet, don't forget the extra clothing....especially important things like coats.
- Hand warmers (those little things that come in packages that you shake to get going) are a very good invention.
- They do make baby ski goggles.

- Never, NEVER leave home without a TON of food, especially if your crowd includes toddlers and/or pregnant women.  Chocolate chip cookies work miracles....

Feel free to leave comments with any other tips you have (winter or summer recreation!)