Check it off the List

Josh and I have a huge, long bucket list for our lives. 

Go to New York City, go bob sledding at Lake Placid, actually get passports and go up north to Green Gables in Nova Scotia (don't laugh)...  I think White Way Delight sounds just as magical as Anne does.

Etcetera. 

 

A part of me thinks that we'll never get through our long, unrealistic list because we rarely do anything cool. BUT, every once in a while we do actually go somewhere as a family and do something fun!!

And that, my friends, is when I blog. 

Yay for that!!

And today you are in luck because we escaped the addictive clutches of our electric blankets, braved the polar vortex (it's a real thing!), put on our snow gear and did something we've been meaning to do for like 8 years. 

We snow shoed. 

Granted, it's no Green Gables, but it was so much fun! We are no respecter of family activities, so, if we do it, we are completely happy. This one day outside getting fresh air should tide us over for another year or two when we decide to do something else. 

I'm kidding.

Anyway, a few things I learned from our experience:

First off, can I just say that kids in snow shoes is like the cutest thing ever. I can't believe they make them so tiny. Stinking adorable. 

Second, snow shoeing is totally doable for kids. They caught on so fast. Amazing. They were tromping in the snow like it was second nature - all while Josh and I were getting ours on! 

Third, even though kids catch on quickly does not mean they will enjoy it for more than a half an hour. 

And they will not walk fast enough, ever.

Fourth, the trails were all nicely groomed. When we were done, we took off the snow shoes and walked along the trail for a bit in our normal shoes.... Aaaand it was like 10 times easier. So, umm, I'm thinking snow shoes are designed to be used on the road less traveled, and not on trails that have been packed down all winter. Oh well. It's all for the experience, right? I do think I would like to try it again, and actually go in un-walked on snow. 

Fifth, I am one tough mama (and Josh is a tough daddy too). We reached a point where both kids were crying, one had to pee, of course they were starving and thought we'd never eat again, plus we had no idea which trail we were on. But we had to get back somehow. So, we told the kids to buck up and march on. Well, that didn't go over too well. And honestly, seeing your kid sob as they walk and walk and walk and walk aaaannnndd walk is actually pretty heartbreaking (and frustrating too, when all you're trying to do is HAVE A LITTLE FAMILY FUN DANGIT!). So, unsurprisingly, we ended up carrying Darcy all the way back. Josh did half, and I did half. My arms felt like they would break off, but I did it. And I counted it as my exercise for the day (even though the rest of the time we were walking at a snails pace)

But, really, it was super fun. I get all snarky, but I truly love spending time with my family. Especially when we are out in nature remembering that Heavenly Father created all these beautiful things for us to enjoy.  

And enjoy it, I do. 

Even when I am lugging along a 30 pound child in my arms. ;)

Weeks later, my car still has pine cones all over the floor that were later found in coat pockets. Ah, to be a kid. Remember when pine cones were the coolest thing in nature? You wouldn't believe how happy I am to have little bits of torn apart pine cones in my car. It means my kids enjoyed it too. 

Go snow shoeing. I recommend it.