This Moment....

*No words necessary, just a precious moment*

but you have to check out what his shirt says.....

New! Feel free to link up your own "moments" in the comments!!!

Taking in Nature and Trails (in all their imperfections)

Truth be told, my husband and I long to live somewhere we could ski from our back door.  Sure, there are plenty of benefits to living in the "Valley of the Warm Winds" (which means there is seldom snow at our home, but easy access to it, and we don't have to worry about plowing snow and all that goes along with that!)  But, oh the joy it would be to NOT have to pack the car with all our skis, gear, snacks and kids every few days to get to snow.  Someday....maybe....

As we recently skied at the closest (20 miles away) backcountry trails, we had all sorts of great ideas about starting a ski team, getting permission to do some grooming (anything would be nice!) and at least clearing out some of the fallen trees.  We notice the trail imperfections especially as we pull the Chariot since it seems to find all sticks, branches, and rocks to bounce off.  We dream of groomed trails that accommodate skate skiing AND don't require breaking our own trail.

And yet, we were realizing that we were completely caught in the grass-is-greener mentality.  We forget about the beauty of not having to share the trail with hundreds of other skiers.  We don't think about how most nicely-groomed trails don't allow dogs (thanks to the ones that choose to poo right in the middle of the trail.)

Really in anything in our lives it is easy to get caught up in the "if only"s.  If only we could ski there.  If only we had better wax.  If only we had better gear.  If only the weather/trails/snow were better.  If only we had a different ski trailer.  If only we made more money. If only we had that perfect job.  Etc. Etc. You get the idea....

And so as we near the beginning of 2012, we vow here to enjoy what we have.  To live in the moment.  To not stress about the small things.  It stop and have a snack, nurse an infant or sing a song/do a dance to warm up a little.  And to be happy to ski where there is snow!

Any adventure-oriented New Years resolutions?  Please do share!

Guest Post: Our Favorite Gear *Crazy Creek Review*

Ahhhh, the  Crazy Creek . 

A little break from winter pictures....relaxing on the beach in the Crazy Creek!

My Crazy Creek sure ups the comfort factor for time in the woods. My kids both love the Crazy Creek camp chair. Whether we're out for the day or the week, we always bring them along. In fact, I keep a couple in the back of my truck for lounging at impromptu picnics or play dates.

We've found them to be quite versatile with uses beyond just a comfy chair. Unfolded flat, the Crazy Creek makes a great pad for my toddler to nap on while staying dry in the bow of my canoe. When our kids were babies, we used the Crazy Creek as a sleeping pad. Just last week, when our youngest was tired of skiing, we put a Crazy Creek down in the sled and he was able to ride along behind dad in comfort, insulated from the snow. This week, we used them at a natural hot springs (to insulate against the hot ground) and while ice fishing.

My husband and I both have the Original Chair, he's had his for over 20 years. They are virtually indestructible. In two decades of regular outdoor use, (with many of those years spent as  instructors for a wilderness camp) the only problem we've ever had was one broken buckle on a side strap.

Crazy Creek sled....in the sand!

I was delighted to receive an Original Crazy Creek for review. Mine is a nifty sky blue and brown color combo. Since their inception in the late eighties, the Original Crazy Creek has changed very little, though I will say I love the addition of velcro snaps to close the chair for easier storage. There's nothing I don't love about this chair! 

If you're lucky enough to have one, you've probably had it for awhile  and you are reading this thinking of all the cool ways you've used your chair (and now your kids do....) If you haven't had the opportunity to try one out, they sure do add an element of luxury to time spent in the wild.

You can find a Crazy Creek  at REI  for around $45.  And yes, they are absolutely worth the money!

Jessica guest-posted here on the blog a couple of months ago.  We are thrilled to welcome her back!  Jess and her family are currently in the midst of ice-fishing and bunny hunting while enjoying winter break from school!


Crazy Creek provided Jess a Crazy Creek chair (pictured above) for this review.  However, like she stated, she has owned different versions for years now.  As always, the opinions expressed here are honest and completely our own (and in this case, Jessica's!) 


And here is a link to REI's sale going on now (they have an abundance of great gear and great gear on sale is even better (sale ends Dec. 31st!)

Merry Christmas...

Wishing you joy and peace during this season of celebration of Christ's birth 

from our Family to Yours!

(the blog posts will be light this week as we enjoy family time and outside time! Enjoy your own family and loved ones and don't forget to bundle up and get outside!)

This Moment

*No words necessary, just a precious moment from our life.*

Destination Adventuring

Getting outside with kids can be tough.  The hardest thing is that what works one time may very well not be as sucessful the next time.  Kids are just fickle! :)  As a family, when we are out there, it is usually for extended hours at a time.  As a mama, this sometimes makes me pretty nervous (what about the melt-downs? do we have enough food? are they adequately bundled?), but the kids tend to roll with the punches better than I do (go figure!)  

For those long days, one thing that we have learned is great for everyone in the family is Destination Adventuring.  

Winter Translation: Instead of skiing around all day, we ski into a cabin or a lodge, eat lunch (or stay the night!) and ski out.

The benefits of this are:

- Built-in rest time for Mama and Daddy (plus a rest for the kids that are traveling via carrier or stroller)

- Something to look forward to ("only a few more minutes", "you can have a snack once we get to the cabin", etc.)

- A warm-up point

- A break-up of events in the day (especially since toddlers - or kids of all ages - have short attention spans!)

Keep in mind:

- Be realistic about the abilities (and morale) or your group.  Even going a mile (or half a mile, etc.) and having a hot chocolate break gives kids something to look forward to.

- Check trail conditions (along with your destination information) before you go.  Not much worse than planning on having somewhere to end and it not being there (because you went the wrong way) or not accessible.

- Roll with it (we tell each other this almost constantly when we are out there adventuring and our plans have to change for various reasons.)

There are country-wide opportunities to do this sort of trip, even in the winter.  One idea is to rent a Forest Service Cabin.  We also look forward to skiing into a Yurt later this winter.  I would love if anyone has any other ideas (or blog posts they have done) to link up in the comments here too!

Locally, we look forward to a skate-ski into Brooks Lake Lodge, located on Togwotee Pass.  Open exclusively to guests in the summer, the lodge caters to snow-mobilers and skiers in the winter.  The trip is a good 2 hours (with a slight uphill climb most of the way) and a fast 45 minutes out (which works great when you have a full stomach after lunch!)  We pack cookies to keep J happy (or as a last resort to entertaining him) on the way in and make a full day of it.

 Any great destination adventures you have done (or would like to do??)  Please do share!

Seattle Backpackers Magazine + Guest Blogging

Today my first article for Seattle Backpackers Magazine is live!  Come check out my tips for Instilling a Love for the (Winter) Outdoors.  I am super excited about this new partnership with a magazine providing great stories, inspiration and gear reviews for the outdoor enthusiast (and especially backpackers and hikers!)  Plus I have a special love for the Pacific Northwest after attending college in Bellingham, WA (2 hours north of Seattle.)  Would love to hear some feedback too - I know there are some great ideas out there for getting kids outside!

I am also guesting today for Colleen over at her blog, Everyday, with tips for Getting outside even during the hustle and bustle of the holidays!