Going on a hike before becoming a mama, was so easy. As long as I had water and comfortable footwear, who cares if I forgot my snacks. I just wanted to get away from all the noise and find inspiration in the beauty around me. No planning required- I could just get up and go. Now, with two young humans in tow, we better not forget snacks or all hell will break loose.

As they get older, distance is becoming less of an issue but motivating them to leave the comfort of our home (or technology) is becoming more difficult. It can be so tiring to have to constantly be reminding them of how happy we are once we are outside exploring. Of how lucky they are to be growing up in a place people from all over the world come and visit. “You are the children of park rangers, trust us, you love this stuff”. Sometimes, all Josh and I can do is take deep breaths through their whining and promise milkshakes as the after hike reward.

Our secret to a quiet, whine-free drive to the trailhead: books on CD’s (yes, the library still carries them). We are currently on the final Harry Potter book and the narrator is so good. Once there, we grab all our stuff and just start walking. Maybe we’ll get to our destination maybe we won’t but we just start walking. And then… they see lizards. They hear a canyon wren. They smell the sage. They feel the grass and feel proud to be carrying their own water and to be in charge of the dogs. They ask so many wonderful questions. And we actually have fun! We connect with each other and disconnect from the noise. (And they get milkshakes afterwards from one of our favorite local spots).

This weekend, we were really hoping for an epic hike with camping in the middle of nowhere but sometimes, life happens and we have to meet our little wildflowers halfway and compromise. So we come home, roast hotdogs and marshmallows, and I get the house to myself ALL NIGHT while they setup a tent and camp in the backyard.