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Mother’s Day Hike- Year Four!

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For four years now, Mother’s Day means, among other obvious things, hiking.

Y’all probably think that I’m super gung-ho and we shuffle out the door at 6 am. Oh noooooo. Not me. I start off every Mother’s Day by sleeping in while Daddy Roo simultaneously makes breakfast while making sure the kids don’t destroy something (welcome to MY world, buddy).

BUT we do get around to a hike every Mother’s Day. We started the tradition in Arizona when Big Roo was just a toddler. NOW look who’s a toddler: Little Roo.

This year we hit Umstead Park, only 15 minutes from our house but green, pretty and with water for the kids (and dog) to marvel. Here are my little hikers:

kids-hiking-umstead-park

Note: Someone *cough- Daddy Roo- cough* should have told me that my headband makes my forehead look bulging. I’m really NOT happy about that picture.

We thought rain was imminent but lucky for us, the mild weather kept us cool. And the light perfect for cool nature-y pictures.

Big Roo even got to carry our old Camelbak for quick access to water… until he decided it was a pain to do anything other than have fun (see who’s carrying it on the way back? PIC: far right)

And Big Roo can’t resist giving his flashy sorta-smile when I break out the camera. Doesn’t he just look like trouble?

I’m adamant about getting a picture with the kids each Mother’s Day but my forehead pic above (and sans shower) just wasn’t cutting it. Instead, we popped out to the deck for a couple of shots before bed. Yep, Big Roo was in his PJs already. Better late than never though, right?

How was your Mama’s Day?

 

What's Your Outdoor Tradition?

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Every family has traditions. They’re usually focused around holidays or other special occasions.

But what about outdoor traditions? Do you have a yearly camping trip? A goal to see a new National Park each year?

Ours is a simple one.

Each year we go on a Mother’s Day hike.

It started when Big Roo was about 15 months old when we lived in Arizona.

The second year, we barely got out of the freaking house. But I proclaimed, “We should make this our tradition, dang it.”

This year, we added Little Roo to the mix.

Three Mother’s Day hikes, three years in a row. I say this is the beginning of a bona fide TRADITION.

Do you have an outdoor tradition? Tell me!

Little Roo Goes Hiking (& a Lesson Learned)

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If you’ve read my slightly outdated About Me page, you’ll see that despite the big plans we had to be hiking maniacs after BIG Roo was born, we didn’t get around to his first hike until he was six months old.

This time, despite the madness of having two kids, we managed Little Roo’s first hike last weekend. Little Roo is just seven weeks old. Score!

To be honest, I didn’t think we were ever going to get out of the damn house. Our morning went something like this:

8:30- This is the time that Daddy Roo let me sleep til (hubby rocks!)

9:00- Feed Little Roo, then pump

9:30- Slowing making our way until breakfast

10:00- “Didn’t we want to go on a hike today?”

10:01- “Where’s the Camelbak? The Baby Bjorn? Trajan’s [our dog] travel water bowl?”

10:05- Go on mad search through the house. Baby Bjorn was hardest to find. Stuffed in a box in storage. Thank Gawd I know how to label boxes.

10:08- Fill water bottles

10:12- Fight with Big Roo over going to potty

10:18- Apply massive amounts of sunscreen

10: 31- Finally out of the house and on our way

Sprinkled throughout our morning was Big Roo’s tantrums about the most mundane stuff. By the time we left, Daddy Roo and I were on edge and in pissy moods. I was so close to throwing a mama hissy fit and just staying home. If it was THIS bad just to get out of the house, were we really going to enjoy the hike anyway?

Since we weren’t entirely sure how Little Roo was going to handle both the hike AND the Bjorn (and due to the late start we got), we went to Durant Nature Park which is literally a mile or so down the street. Despite its close proximity to suburbia, we found a nice little hike… perfect for our timeframe and for little feet.

In recent weeks, Daddy Roo and I have noticed that Big Roo nearly becomes the perfect child when he’s outside.

He didn’t walk too far in front of us, he listened when we told him to be careful around the water, he was laughing and having a great time! All the acting out from having a new sibling seemingly vanished.



Trajan the Yellow Labster also had a blast. Loving water runs deep in his veins. He lapped up some fresh water then made a (failed) attempt to jump into the creek. I was too slow to catch a picture of that!

As for the other Roo, we didn’t have anything to worry about. He ALSO enjoyed himself. No crying. No massive poops. Instead, he gazed at this new world, where sunshine peeked through green leaves and birds chirped happily. Look how chill he was.

That’s the great thing about hiking… and our lesson learned. Enjoying nature has an innate calming effect. We went from a cranky, frantic morning to feeling refreshing and calm. Gotta love this stuff!

Five Must-Have Shots to Take on Your Next Family Hike

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For the longest time, whenever we’d go hiking I’d take snapshots of just scenery and more scenery. But then, I’d get home, upload my pics and wonder, were we even there? I started realizing I could have just bought a postcard for the same effect.

So, I’ve gotten more creative over the years with my snap-happy self, especially now that we’re hiking as a family. I want shots that make those hiking memories all the more vivid.

Here are my five top pictures to snap next time you go hiking:

1. Take Nature Shots at a Different Angle
We can all appreciate the shots where we stand and click, turn right, stand and click, turn right and make our way in a circle to capture all the beautiful scenery. But why not take it a step further? Kneel down to what the forest critters see. Look up and capture the sun peeking through the trees. Tilt the camera slightly to capture a more dynamic view. You may be surprised at what nature shows you, even for something as ordinary as trees.

Looking up at the trees- Holly Point at Falls Lake, NC

Looking up at the trees- Holly Point at Falls Lake, NC

2. Get a Picture of the Sign
I started this trend a few years ago on our first hike in the Grand Canyon. I was in such awe that we were actually IN the Canyon at THE Indian Gardens (which at the top of the Canyon, the trees here look like little pieces of broccoli). Now I make it a point to capture a directional sign somewhere along the trip. It can be the trailhead sign, the park entrance sign, whatever! Just snap a pic. It just may come in handy later when you wonder what the heck the trail was named.

Trail Marker-

Trail Marker- Indian Gardens within the Grand Canyon, AZ

3. Capture actually hiking.
When we go hiking, why do we forget to take pictures of us actually hiking? Instead it’s typically a posed, static shot of the hikers (if you even got shots of people at all). So, walk ahead and get the family moving along the trail. Or stay behind and get them hiking away from you. If it’s a place that’s particularly steep, capture your family trudging up the hill (you’ll get a nice breather). Or coming down off a summit. Whatever the case, just capture movement.

Daddy Roo and a younger Big Roo- Umstead Park, NC

Daddy Roo and a younger Big Roo- Umstead Park, NC

4. Snap a close-up shot of nature.
While I dig the panoramic shots so I remember what a place actually looked like, there’s also beauty in the finer parts of nature. Maybe it’s the spring flowers that just started to bloom or the dead roots of a fallen tree. Maybe it’s some interesting moss or an unusual rock. Get close and capture a close-up of a little piece of nature.

Splash "fossils" on rock from Colorado River- bottom of the Grand Canyon, AZ

Splash "fossils" on rock from Colorado River- bottom of the Grand Canyon, AZ

5. Make sure YOU (yeah, you) are in at least one picture
I mean it. Step away from the camera and hand it to someone else. As a mom, I’m always the one with a camera strap around my neck. And I definitely could use a little nudge here and there to actually remember to do this. It’s SO important to capture ourselves in these family moments. While you may hate seeing yourself in pictures (make-up, hair or outfit isn’t perfect), I bet your kids love it. So, ask someone (your spouse, a hiker, one of your kids) to take your picture too. At least ONE pic of you per hike. That’s not too much to ask for, right?

Me and Big Roo (as Baby Roo)- somewhere near Prescott, AZ

Me and Big Roo (as Baby Roo)- somewhere near Prescott, AZ

Any other shots that you love to take while hiking?