Snowshoe Adventure | A Guide on How to Outfit Your Kids and Teach Them How to Snowshoe

Snowshoe Adventure | A Guide on How to Outfit Your Kids and Teach Them How to Snowshoe

2.21.2020

We took the boys on a short snowshoe adventure over the long weekend!  I admit, the idea was initially met with resistance.  A pair of certain boys did not want to get dressed and would have rather watched tv all afternoon.  Bron and I insisted they come anyway and the afternoon wound up ending in exclamations of, "That was fun!" and "Let's do that again!"

I am always blown away by how much snow there is in the South Hills even though there is none down in the valley where we live.  Driving up there, it's like entering into a whole new magical world!

It's just another gentle reminder to myself that getting outside to burn energy and enjoy some beauty (I mean, look at all that POWDER!) is always worth the effort.

I've gotten quite a few questions about how difficult it is to snowshoe and how I outfit my kids for these adventures.  I'm answering as many of those questions as I can below.  So read on!

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Our Saturday Morning Snowshoe Adventure to Ross Falls

Our Saturday Morning Snowshoe Adventure to Ross Falls

2.25.2019

We loaded up into the truck Saturday morning and as we headed down the road towards the South Hills, I couldn't help but grab Bron's hand as I looked around at what we'd brought with us: 3 boys in the backseat (one ornery child complaining about his mittens), 2 dogs hanging their heads out of the bed of the truck, and what feels like a ton of gear.

"Look at this chaos we've created!" I exclaimed.

"Why did we do it to ourselves?" Bron replied grumpily.  But underneath he had a smile.

"Well, we can't take it back.  I kind of love it."

It's true.  This chaos we call family has steadily grown over the last 12 years.  There is more of everything these days.  More clothes to wash.  More whining.  More messes.  More noise.  More food for the table.  More moments when I feel overwhelmed by it all.  There's also more teasing.  More laughter.  More hugs.  More "I'm sorry."  More "I love you."  More teaching.  More learning.  More purpose.  More prayer.  But most of all, more joy.

Everything has its opposite.  I'll take the lows any day for the highs that erase their memory.

I turned 34 years old a little less than a month ago.  I don't make a big deal of my birthday here on the blog because I feel like being somewhere in my 30's just isn't noteworthy.  It's just another year on the planet.  Looking around, however, I am really proud of what Bron and I have accomplished thus far together.  A loving husband, three healthy kids, two crazy dogs, and a house out in the country may seem very boring and ordinary, but it's actually a very beautiful life.  Sometimes it hits me hard just how lucky I am!  I have so much to be grateful for.

So Saturday morning, feeling a little extra nostalgic about being the lucky wife and mom to these boys I get to call mine, we forged our own trail up to Ross Falls.  I have never seen the snow so deep!  As we reached the top, I just kind of slid into a hole created by the creek bed.  Two minutes later, the kids were in there with me.  It was really incredible to be down there surrounded by walls of snow!  We had a blast but had to head back down the trail quickly once Conrad soaked himself in the creek.  No worries.  Conrad was all right.  Bron stripped him down and got him warmed up in the truck.  I hope my little boys know how much spending time with them and making memories with them means to me!

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A Family Snowshoeing Adventure

A Family Snowshoeing Adventure

12.02.2018

We kicked off December in the best way I could possibly think of: fresh air and fresh snow!  After all, it's beginning to feel like Christmas around here.  I spent all of Friday decorating the house.  Little twinkle lights and pops of green and red all over the place are making me smile just a little more broadly.  Plus, the boys and I made (and ate) an entire gingerbread house all in one evening already.  It only seemed appropriate to spend the first day of December enjoying the new snow in the hills.  So Bron and I gave Jed and Levi one of their Christmas gifts early (I bought their snow shoes in the Spring on clearance!) and we piled into the truck.

The South Hills were crowded with folks looking for Christmas trees so we opted for the road less traveled -- literally!  We criss-crossed our way over a trail system but it hadn't been walked or skied on since the new snow fell.  We were the first to lay down tracks in the knee deep powder!  I'm not sure the boys were as thrilled as Bron and I were.  They complained that it was hard work, but fortunately weren't too uncooperative.  I know they secretly enjoy this stuff!

It was snowing but relatively warm as we made our way through the flocked trees.  I won't ever get over how pretty a fresh layer of snow looks on evergreen trees.  And then the sun came out and my photographer heart pitter pattered out of my chest.  The scene was sooo pretty!  I'm counting my blessings because I truly do have it all right now: family, health, and a beautiful place to call home.  I think snowshoeing needs to become an advent tradition!

Speaking of Christmas traditions, I had a thought the other day that was quite profound for me personally.  Throughout Biblical and Book of Mormon history, people prepared for Christ's foretold birth.  They looked forward to the grand event with joyful anticipation.  Likewise, today, we prepare for Christmas with joyful anticipation.  We decorate the tree, hang up lights, wrap presents, bake cookies, deliver service, and a host of other symbolic actions of the season.  Then it occurred to me: Christ is coming again.  He is coming again!  What a glorious message of joy, hope, and peace.  And I get to be a part of this preparation every single day of the year, not just at Christmas time.  I suppose I've always just assumed I'll be dead before it happens, but that's really beside the point.  I need to live my life in joyful anticipation of Him and teach my boys to do the same.  It really is a neat thought that has transformed the way I see Christmas this year.

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Our Seven Foot Snowman and Other Fun Snow Things

Our Seven Foot Snowman and Other Fun Snow Things

12.23.2015

^^May I introduce our 7 (maybe closer to 8) foot snowman with teeny T-Rex arms.  A family work of art!  We couldn't have done it without Bron home.^^

^^Putting on the carrot nose.  Classic.^^

^^The backyard winter wonderland!^^

^^Bron helped the boys make a snow fort out of the old play-set that blew over in the wind earlier this winter.  It was hit!^^

^^Defending the fort from Mom and Dad with snowballs!^^

^^Jed was out to get me with that snowball!  I love that mischievous little face.^^

^^Incoming snowball!  Haha.^^

^^Big fat snowflakes and a tiny sledding hill in the neighbor's yard.  A winter moment to remember!^^

On Monday night we went to bed listening to the wind howl and on Tuesday morning we awoke to a winter wonderland!  It was a beautiful surprise.  And an exciting way to kick off Christmas break.  We were all geared up and ready to take on the new snow soon after breakfast.  Even Bron took a breather from his computer work to come play.  We spent approximately two hours in the backyard delighting in the magical white stuff--which just happened to be the best packing snow I've probably ever seen!  Thus, our giant 7 foot snowman with teeny T-Rex arms was born.  Haha.  He was awesome, though he unfortunately keeled over and died very young.  We also built a "snow fort" and had a snowball fight before sledding down the neighbor's toddler-sized hill.  The snow continued to fall all morning in big fat flakes.  It was pretty dreamy.  I admit, just the thought of it all puts a smile on my face.  What happened Tuesday morning is the best part of winter: unexpected magic and fun.  I hope we get to do it again.

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The Week of Thanksgiving

The Week of Thanksgiving

12.01.2015

We enjoyed a busy yet relaxing wonderful break from our daily grind last week as we celebrated Thanksgiving!

I think it all started Tuesday morning when Levi and I showed up--along with a host of other parents and little siblings--to the annual Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast at school.  Those innocent five and six year olds didn't disappoint in their cuteness.  Jed walked in wearing his handmade Indian costume eagerly looking for me.  I'm so glad I was there to witness it.  He was sooo excited to show off his costume and say his lines!  Levi, on the other hand, was just excited to eat.  Haha.

We wound up bringing home an entire untouched Costco pumpkin pie with us.  I had no idea that Costco pie would be so tasty!  For $6, I may never make my own ever again.  Not kidding one bit, between Levi and I, we ate an entire half a pie in 24 hours.  Gobble!  Gobble! 

Wednesday morning we woke up to a beautiful blanket of white snow!  Add on the fact that there was no school and I was officially in vacation mode.  The kids and I dressed up and played for a full hour together in the front yard while the snow continued to fall.  I attached a rope to one of the boys' sleds and proceeded to drag them around.  The boys were all smiles from there!  Whew.  I think I need a four wheeler or something.  That was a workout.  But their giggles and laughter made it all more than worth it.  Can't wait to play again. 

^^Jed has the right idea.  Future snow boarder right there.^^

^^Yummy!  What's with kids always eating snow?!^^

We decided to leave for the Nelson Dairy Wednesday evening to beat the potentially icy roads Thursday morning.  And we are so glad we did.  We had plenty of Nelson family Thanksgiving traditions to uphold and we weren't about to be late!

Our Thanksgiving morning began with more snow.  Why can't the magic of snow last all winter long?!  There's nothing like waking up to a layer of fresh powder.  It is sooo pretty!  All three of us, (Jed, Levi and I), were anxious to get out and play.  First, we gathered eggs... ahem, I mean chased Grandma's chickens.  Then Jed and Levi caught a tractor ride with Grandpa.  They were so excited they practically oozed happiness out their ears.  They think Grandpa hung the moon because who else could possibly be cool enough to drive real life monster sized tractors?  Levi even went out again the next night... in the freezing cold and dark.  He's a die hard fan.

But enough about the farm.  Let's talk food and traditions.  Flint and Bron smoked the turkey and ham this year.  Delicious!  And naturally, we had more pies than we knew what to do with.  It was a weekend of gluttony, I must admit.  After Thanksgiving dinner, we played games, opened up matching Christmas jammies, and finally broke out the store ads to plan our Black Friday shopping spree.

It was Nichole and Chantee's very first trip and I think Merri Sue and I indoctrinated the girls very well.  We were out the door by 6AM and shopped til we dropped, or actually, sat down to a warm breakfast at Perkins.  I love getting 90% of my shopping done in one swoop like that.  It really helps make the Christmas season feel less stressful for me.

Then we met the boys in Rexburg for our traditional bowling game followed by pizza.  Yum!  (I told you we ate a lot.  Haha.)  And we talked and teased a lot too.  Good times.  Oh, but I can't forget our little date Friday night with Kaleb, Chantee, and Call to play laser tag!  It's been so long since I've done something like that.  I got killed.  A lot.  But hey, it was a riot.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!    

^^Loving on the baby calves.^^

^^Happiness in a nutshell for Jed and Levi.^^

^^It always surprises me how cool something as ordinary as a stack of wood can become when given a few tweaks in Lightroom.^^

^^Beautiful log cabin looking quite festive and inviting during a snow storm!^^

^^Sandy, 'ol girl.^^

^^Snowball fight with Dad!  Notice how Bron is growing facial hair!!!  No shave November, or something like that.  I'm actually really liking it and so is he.^^

^^Eating more snow.^^

^^Freeezing in the single digits or not, I cannot get enough of these GORGEOUS frosted trees lately!^^

^^I know!  I need to force the family to get used to my camera.  We need more pictures of everyone, right?  Right.  Documentation is important.^^

^^The yummiest dinner and cutest name card!^^

I feel so very blessed to belong to such an incredible family whom love and work and play.  It's hard to put all my feelings of thankfulness into words because as I've looked around me this past month, my blessings become numberless.  It's the big things like a home and heat and food on the table.  But it's also the small things like the pretty light on that leaf in the picture above and the way Levi just thanked Jed for doing something thoughtful.  Every single blessing is no more important than another and they weave themselves into the most beautiful tapestry that is my life.  All these beautiful blessings and moments that I am surrounded with everyday but hardly take the time to notice!  I want to bottle up my children's silly jokes, chatter, and laughter, their limitless imaginations, and all the affection I am smothered with daily by all three of my men.  No, life isn't perfect, but I'm learning to appreciate the here and now.  And I feel so very happy and whole.  Life and God are good.     

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