Nature For Kids

Nature For Kids is fully up and running now! A few items to come in the future are...parent forum and Nature For Kids merchandise. This summer I want to put together an outdoor activity program for kids that will take place once a week. Probably in the morning when it's still cool outside. We'll go on short hikes do nature crafts and other fun stuff. Comment here if you're interested in participating. It will be free and everyone is welcome! I'll probably start the first activity in June sometime, I'll keep you posted. - Shawna

DDD has a new home!

Diapers, Dogs and Daypacks has a new home everyone! It's now called Nature For Kids . I'm just finishing up building the site. Let me know what you think. I'm so totally up for recommendations. The site will have a lot of the same posts I've done here but I'll get caught up soon and post some new stuff. If you have DDD linked on your blog or internet explorer favorites be sure to change the site address so you can keep checking in easily. Thanks for all your support so far everybody. I really appreciate it. Above all I hope DDD helps kids get outdoors more! Oh and DDD is not dead. I'll work it in somehow. People just don't search for diapers and dogs in the same sentence on the internet very much, you know what I mean. :)

Harmful Plastic

Just wanted to give you all a heads up on this study done on plastic. I heard about it on television and my friend Jennie just sent me this story. Here's the shortcut . And here's another one. I've talked alot about Nalgene water bottle on my blog. Unfortunately they are made of polycarbonate, the type of plastic that is the most harmful, according to this recent study. Check the bottom of your bottles, baby bottles included. if it has a small number 7 that means it's polycarbonate. Read what you want. I'm still drinking out of mine. I just don't put hot things inside it anymore. Later!

Outdoor Photography Tips

Part I
Outdoor Portraits

Okay I'll start out with the simple things I learned that are super effective!
*When taking a portrait shot (where your subject of the picture is a person) take the picture vertically instead of horizontally. This eliminates a lot of empty useless space from the picture.

Horizontal








Vertical

*Photographers say there are two perfect times during the day to take a picture. They call it the "golden hours". They are the hour before the sun comes up and an hour before the sun goes down. The lighting is perfect during these times.
*When taking a portrait picture outside have your subject between you and the sun. Use an on-camera flash (which all cameras have) to brighten the subjects face so there are no shadows. Angle the camera so the sun is not in the picture but so that it's shining on the back of the subject, allowing a line of bright light to outline your subject. (Notice the line on the shoulders, top and side of head)

*Never take pictures during the middle of the day. Shadows are ugly and unflattering. The sun shines straight down casting shadows from brows, nose and chin.

Now if you think these were simple enough tips stay tuned for Part II. They are all really easy and will improve your photography skills ...allowing family and friends to actually enjoy looking at your vacation pictures!

Written Word To Recreation

I've always wanted to make a wolf suit for my boys. One like Max wears in the book "Where The Wild Things Are" written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. I know they would wear it out just like their super man, ninja and spiderman costumes. Unfortunately my sewing skills are lacking. I can handle mending things but the extent of my sewing skills ended at an apron I made in 4-H when I was like 10. "Where The Wild Things Are," has always been a favorite book of mine and now my children seem to enjoy it as much as me. The main character, Max, has a playful personality that becomes apparent on the very first page. "Max...made mischief of one kind and another." As does any little boy, including my own two. he's so mischievous his mother sends him to bed without eating anything. His playful personality isn't the only portion of his character that appeals to me. His imagination is what really makes the meat of the book. It takes him and the reader on an outdoor adventure where he finds himself in a forest, sails a boat, discovers wild things, does magic tricks, dances under the moonlight, hangs from trees and becomes a king. Max eventually becomes lonely and hungry however, two things that a mother and a home can remedy easily. So he decides to give up being a wild thing and returns home. The loving part I see in the story is that his mom has his dinner waiting for him when he returns..."and it's still hot". The pictures are delightful. I have some of the prints hanging in my boys' room. While you read and look at the illustrations it's easy to produce your own sound effects and wild rumpus music.

I believe books like these help inspire children to create their own journey. It's a spring board for adventure. Plus it's something for parents and children to share.

Other books my children love and I'd recommend:

"Clap Your Hands" by Lorinda Bryan Cauley.

Keeps their little bodies moving!

Through Usborne Books "Farmyard Tales"

"The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and THE BIG HUNGRY BEAR" written by Don and Audrey Wood.

By far Corbin's FAVORITE!

"Good Dog Carl" by Alexandra Day

"Blueberries For Sal" by Robert McCloskey

"Ferdinand The Bull" by Munro Leaf

My favorite as a kid.

As much as I'd hate to admit it, my boys love "Go Diego Go" books. They're not my favorite book's to read but they teach a lot about different animals and the outdoors. Plus Diego is the coolest kid I know. Seriously, how many little boys do you know get to explore the rain forest with no supervision and drive their own jeep?!

If you have a favorite children's book that encourages physical activity or outdoor play leave a comment! I'm always up for buying new books! (Becca I know you have a plethora of suggestions...I'm banking on you girl! So go to your book shelf and stretch out your typing fingers :))

Infant Winter Wear

Here's some great, in depth information on winter wear for infants. I found it on a network on facebook. It talks about everything you'd need to know. I recommend that all mom's and dad's read it. Even though it's super long! I promise it will be worth it!

Layers: This is the most important principle for enthusiasts of any age. The colder the weather, the more layers needed. Your baby will generally need more layers than you will, since he or she is not as active, therefore not producing as much heat. Start with one-piece undershirts and work your way outward. Synthetics like fleece are better than cotton, which is deadly when wet. For really cold days, be sure the outermost layer is wind- and waterproof or water-resistant. A snowsuit with a nylon shell and a heat-generating inner layer like fleece or wool (stack layers so that itchy wool won't irritate your baby's skin) should do the trick. (See discussion board regarding choosing a baby snowsuit.)

Heads: Humans lose more heat through their heads than anywhere else. This is especially true for babies, who have proportionately bigger heads than adults. This translates into hats, hats, and more hats. Don't be afraid to use more than one hat, and hats inside hoods. For infants, always keep heads and faces protected, but be sure they can breathe! Cozy-fitting fleece hats with earflaps protect the head, ears, and much of the neck. Velcro straps at the bottom of the hat are always a help keeping them on. This sort of hat makes a great combo with a hooded snowsuit. The fleece provides a warmth layer while the snowsuit helps keep out any wind.

Hands, feet, and legs: All of these extremities are places where the body loses heat fast. For babies, use snowsuits and fleece coveralls that have coverings instead of openings for the hands and feet. Under the one-piece, use extra mittens, socks, tights, or long underwear in cold weather. You'll typically want something wind- and waterproof as the outermost layer, and remember that whatever you use, little boots aren't always warm and often come off easily.

Little legs: You and older children may feel great in a warm jacket, but babies and toddlers need extra layers on their legs since they don't move at all, or, in the case of toddlers, they don't move very fast. Don't forget to have extra layers on their legs, such as snowsuits, fleece, or wind pants. As part of the inner layering thick leotards or tights can help keep legs warm. Periodically check for any places where air might get to your baby, such as the face or hand or shoe openings of coats and pants. Make sure skin stays covered on cold days. Also keep track of runny noses, which can add to cold-weather discomfort.

Avoid the glare: Remember to protect your baby's eyes. Glare can be especially bad on snow, so consider a pair of sunglasses or UV-protective goggles for your tot.

Front packs: Front packs provide more of your own body heat and natural protection to your child than do backpacks. When using a front pack, it's easier to keep a baby's face protected from the wind, since he's facing you. Another advantage to using front packs is that you can actually see your child. If you do use a backpack it will be helpful to have another person present to check that your child is happy and warm.

Testing: It can often be tough. You can't ask a baby, after all, and you can't always depend on signals. Crying is helpful, of course, but cold babies don't always cry. Your child may even be sleeping through the cold. Periodically test your baby's warmth by touching his nose, cheeks, or fingers. Of course, to thoroughly check your child you sometimes need to expose him to the elements. How can you safely check on your child's foot or fingers for warmth if they're already well bundled up? You have to be very quick with your testing and minimize exposure, particularly if it's really cold or windy.

Always stay in familiar territory: The last thing you want to do is get lost with your infant on a cold day. And if your baby is fussy, turn back. This isn't the time to tough things out.

Keep outings short: The more you venture out and test layers in various temperatures, the better sense you'll have of your baby's cold-weather needs.

At the end of each adventure, as you unbundle your child in indoors warmth, immediately test his hands and feet, particularly to see if he's been dry and warm. This is the test of whether your outing has been successful and will give you clues to what may be needed on your next winter trip.

Taking Outdoor Pictures

I'm currently taking an outdoor photography class. When I'm finished I will be posting some tips and tricks that I've learned throughout this multi-week course. So keep an eye out for a new post in April on this subject!

Klimbing Kiddos

One of my favorite things about having kids is finding fun outdoor equipment for them. A camel back is cool for adults but when you find a miniature sized one for kids it's...."Ah cute!" We bought a kids climbing harness about the time when our oldest turned three. I think I like it more than he does. It stabilizes their bodies in an upright position, preventing them from flipping upside down.
I just get so stinking excited when I can have our kids participate in the activities that my husband and I love to do. The people who make these things are genius in my book. What better way to bring a family together!

We set up a top rope climb (the rope is anchored to the top of the climb so if you fall you're not going anywhere) and let the kids have some fun. We usually don't need to use a belay device for our youngest because he's so light. We just do a hip belay (rap the rope around my big bootie). The kids really like the overhang climbs. It allows them to swing more!

We've tried to teach them the correct lingo for safety reasons: On belay, climbing, slack, tension, rock! and etc.
Eventually they usually end up saying their own climbing lingo though, things like..."I want to do spinners" or "Where's the spiderman chalk?"

We've taught them the basic rules for safety too:
Mom or Dad must double check harness before you climb
Don't use your knees

Don't step on the rope
Don't put your fingers in the lead climbing bolts
wear a helmet
use your legs (they're stronger than your arms)

*The key thing I've learned while climbing with my kids is not to force them to do anything they don't want to do. Our oldest began crying on one particular climb because he got up as far as he wanted to go and didn't want to go any further. We were encouraging him to go a little further because he was so close to the top, but he was definitely scared and ready to come down. We let him know that we just wanted him to have fun and he didn't have to do anything he didn't want to. He quickly calmed down and was eager to do it again the next time we went. I think it easily could have turned into a negative situation for him.

*We take small toys with us on our climbing trips. That way whoever isn't climbing can play with trucks in the dirt or whatever.

*Our second child is 3. He doesn't necessarily like to climb up but he likes to swing on the rope. He pushes off the rock with his feet and spins and hangs upside down and traverses across the rock wall. As long as he's having fun that's fine with me.

Tent Camping With Babies

This week I had a friend, who is preparing to have her second child, ask about helpful hints on camping with new infants and small children. Her and her husband already have a camping trip planned and their baby isn't even born yet...high five from across the U.S. Sadie!
This got my wheels turning in my rusty cobweb filled head and I had to refer to my journal for reminding...
September 13, 2004 - This is an entry I wrote when Corbin was almost 3 months old.
"Corbin slept through the night for the first time on Friday. The funny thing is we were camping out.

(Valley of Fire 2005)

All four of us squished inside our tiny tent. But it was fun. He slept 8 hours straight. It was so nice."
*What I do remember from this trip, besides my first restfull night as a new mom, is what he slept in that night. I got Corbin's car seat and put it in the tent and lined it with warm blankets. I had him sleep in his normal pajamas and then put a fleece bunting over the top. I then topped it off with a little beanie on his head. Once I laid him in the car seat I just put a couple more layers of blankets over him. Fleece and synthetic down materials work best, I think. Because he was raised a little from the ground inside the car seat I knew I wouldn't roll over on top of him. It allowed me to sleep better because we were pretty crammed...but warm!
April 28, 2002 - This entry was written when Cru was almost 3 months old.
"We're on our way home from City of Rocks right now. We had a blast! I wasn't too excited to go because the forecast said it would be rainy and cold; and it was, but not too bad. Cru was great. It was his first camping experience. We made the tent nice and cozy so we could all sleep in it. The first night was kind of rough but last night we stayed really warm and Cru slept all night. The climbing was rad!"
*I totally remember what made the difference between

(Bear Lake 2002)

the first night and the second night. We learned a new trick that we still use to this day. When we set up our tent, and know it's going to be cold and wet, we put a tarp under it. then we lay a fleece blanket over the top of the tent, where our air vents are. Then we put the fly on over that. It works extremely well. The heat stays in better but so does the stale air. Gets kinda stinky in there with three boys!

PART II

Sleeping Pads - Children can pretty much sleep anywhere because of their rubber bones but it's still important to make their outdoor sleeping arrangements as comfortable as possible. I had a sleeping mat I bought in college called a Therma-Rest Z-Lite. It's a foam material that folds up accordion style. (you can see a portion of it in the picture above) For my 3 year old we fold it in half and let him sleep on that. It's fairly inexpensive, compared to an inflatable Therm-a-Rest, and doesn't take up a lot of room like those huge inflatable mattresses or the fat foam mats you have to roll up. Putting a sleeping pad under your childs sleeping bag also gives them an extra insulation level. It can get cold sleeping directly on the ground.

Sleeping Bags - When we first started camping with our kids we came to find out that there weren't many options, as far as sleeping bags went, for them. We started off with bags we found at Walmart, consisting

(Maple Canyon 2007)

mostly of nylon material and a thin layer of batting. Not ideal, but they worked with some help from layered blankets. This summer we're looking into purchasing children's bags that are higher quality. Amazon.com has some good options. When you're buying a sleeping bag keep in mind what kind of weather you'll be in. If you don't plan on camping in cold weather you probably have no need for a bag that is less than 30 degrees. Otherwise I would go for a 0 degree bag. They tend to cost more but can be used through all seasons (Three cheers for snow caves!) Also, if your kids are like ours they wiggle from one side of their bed to the other at night. Purchase a bag that will keep them in one spot and covered throughout the night. Bags that help with that are contoured to the body and have a hood and drawstring that goes over their shoulders, otherwise known as mummy style.

Sleeping Arrangement - When you lay out your sleeping bags in the tent try to keep the kids away from the outer edges. Lay the bags towards the middle. Otherwise they may get a little damp if it rains. Even the morning dew and precipitation can make the walls of the tent damp.

Odds and Ends - If you're in an area that is known to have more wildlife roaming around, be sure to take dirty diapers out of the tent and away from camp. It's disgusting, but something like that will tempt bears just as much as a steak dinner.
The only other word of advice I have is...WIPES! Baby wipes are the miracle camping tool! Little rug rats can play in the outdoors all day and you don't have to worry about them getting all dirty. Just wipe them down and put them in clean clothes and they're ready for a good night's rest and another fun filled day.

Leave a comment about any tips you've learned while camping with your family!

Balance In All Things

Okay, so I re-read my last post and I totally sound like a tree hugger. I hope I didn't scare any of you off! I think I should clarify. "Tree Hugger" is not in the dictionary but I don't think the definition would fit me even if it were. I am however slightly granolaish. That's at least how my family describes me. I press flowers, eat soy beans, recycle plastic bags, conserve energy, practice yoga, climb rocks but most of all shave my pits and legs...during the summer at least. ;) I'm not an extreme environmentalist but cringe at the sight of litter and graffiti (unless it's artfully done with permission). Our family is like any other, and that's who I'm trying to reach out too in this blog...your average hot dog, marshmallow eating family. I'm not going to encourage you to take your small children on survival trips allowing them only to eat berries and nuts. My kids come home from hikes with pockets full of rocks and pinecones just like any other. So I think what I'm trying to say is I believe there is a balance in all things. Even in outdoor etiquette.

Learning Outdoor Etiquette

I've been trying to ingrain into my children’s brains that everything in our home has a specific spot it belongs. It seems I spend my days saying things like, "your coat doesn't belong on the floor," and "why is your underwear on the table?" But this lesson they are continually learning goes beyond just our house. While we were out for a walk the other day my 3-year-old son threw his sucker stick on the ground, stepped on it and kept on walking. Bright lights, bells and whistles went off in my head and I realized it was a teaching moment.

"Corbin garbage doesn't belong on the ground. It belongs in the garbage can," I said. He shrugged his shoulders and picked it up without a fight. Lesson learned, right? Well today I decided to take it a bit further. My kids and I went for a walk with our gloves on and garbage sack in hand. We picked up garbage as we went. I think this drove the idea in a little further. As we walked we talked about the idea of leaving no trace and the responsibilities that come along with playing outside. (I condensed it to the 6 and 3-year-old version mind you)

Here are some subjects we hit on:

Stay on marked trails
Pack out what you pack in
Leave what you find
Be careful with fire
Don't bother the wildlife

Overall it's just a matter of leaving things how you found them, by trying to have a minimal impact on your surroundings. That way others that come along the trail later can find it in the exact beautiful state that you did. By not picking that dark purple leopard lily just off the trail someone else can witness it's popping color and point it out to their travel companion.


Fun Activity: Last Spring I took my Cub Scout group and my kids up a trail just above our little town. We took plaster of paris and poured it into animal footprints we found. Then we hiked up the trail. By the time we returned the plaster was dry and we took the molds of the footprints out. The kids loved it, and seemed to enjoy taking a bit of nature home with them without actually taking something.

Recommendations: REI and the Leave No Trace foundation combined to create the PEAK program (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) I've looked into it and want to get the teaching materials and lessons that they've created for kids. I've sent off an email to see how I can get my hands on it and I'll let you all know when I do.

Comments:
Some of my experiences concerning the leave no trace concept are listed below. Please leave a comment about an experience you've had or why you think it's important to "leave only footprints and take only pictures".

*While snowboarding on a nice powdery day this winter I spotted an empty Mountain Dew bottle that someone had thrown from the chair lift. That bold green stood out in all that white powder. My eyes were drawn right to it. Unfortunately it was going to take a lot more than the name of the pop to let it blend in with the outdoor environment.

*While backpacking in the White Cloud Mountains in Idaho a friend and I came upon a fire ring that had mounds of aluminum foil in it. It wasn't the end of the world but it took a slice of my nature experience away from me. Seeing that mound of foil reminded me of the people and the things that I live with at home. The exact thing I was escaping from by heading into the backcountry that week.
*We've been exploring the petroglyphs and pictographs of southeast Utah and it's frustrating to see something like "Josh was here” or "Mandy loves Roberto" scratched into the rock near an ancient painting that's thousands of years old. What's up with that? Write it in your journal not on historical landmarks.

Bug Soccer

Today’s Challenge: Find a local outdoor outlet where you live; someplace you can go that's conveniently close and that has endless exploring opportunities, a park, a trail or even just a remote wooded area. Call it your swift sanctuary or rapid retreat. Whatever you call it, use it often.

We have four paralleling lines where I live; the train tracks, Main Street, the river and the freeway. Although Main Street's old architecture, bakery, art gallery, library and fire station are fun to visit, my favorite line to explore is the river. When we moved to this small town I was surprised to find such an extensive greenway system in place, which follows the river through town and beyond the outskirts. On those days when we're not feeling up for a big adventure that requires getting in the car, we head to the river. It's just a jaunt from our front door. And you know what Bilbo Baggins says, "It's a dangerous business...going out of your door. If you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to."
On one particular morning we were having troubles getting motivated to accomplish anything in our day. Picture me and my three children lounging in our pajamas until 11 a.m., blinds drawn, watching television with unbrushed hair, picking at a Tupperware full of cookies we made the night before. Our activity level was, needless to say, ranking at the bottom with rats and other sewer dwellers. Eventually our lack of nourishing food and recreation led to grouchy interactions amongst us. The kids were arguing over what to watch and the baby was clinging to me. "Okay, get dressed and get your shoes on, we're going outside!" I said, surprising myself more than anyone. "We have to get outside of this box!"After a good fifteen minutes of moaning and complaining we were standing in the garage as the door slowly rose, the light blinding us as it trickled in. It was like a scene from a bad vampire movie.
The previous day we had gone to the library for reading time. The kids played some games and each received a prize, a bug catcher with a magnifying glass, tweezers and a net. So we took the new prize and our dog with us in search of bugs dwelling down by the river.
I pushed the baby in the stroller. Cru and Corbin began scowering the ground like metal detectors, in search of bugs. Skadi, our dog, was curious to find out what the boys were doing. She stayed close to them with a inquisitive look on her face. As the boys began turning over large rocks in search of anything moving Skadi would get her muzzle right in the action. In fact, the first rock they turned over Skadi sniffed an ant up her nose. She let out a repetition of convulsive sneezes. After one last sneeze with the simultaneous shake of her head I could almost see the ant comically flying out of her nose through the air. With each rock that the boys turned over a new colony of bugs was discovered; roly polies, earwigs, firebugs, millipedes and ants. At first the boys were a bit reluctant to get near the bugs, let alone grab them with their tweezers, which they called grabber nabbers. Eventually they got use to the scrambling insects and got a system down. "Okay mom, you lift and I'll pick them up with my grabber nabbers," Cru said. Corbin was designated as the container carrier and net trapper. "1,2,3 go", I said "Ah, grab it grab it hurry they're getting away!"
After lots of turned over rocks and giggles we peered through the magnifying glass at a container full of bugs staring back at us. The kids seemed amazed by the detail that the magnifying glass gave to the bugs. They could almost count each individual leg of the millipede. They cringed at the sight of the front pinchers of the earwig, and were entranced by the red design on the fire bug's back. But their favorite seemed to be the rolly poly bug. They were in awe of it's ability to change from a crawling bug to a rolling ball. They dubbed it what any young boy would, the transformer bug; finally something to compete with Optimus Prime and Bumble Bee.
We had gone almost the entire distance of the green belt and been outside for almost two hours and not even realized it. It was amazing. We seemed to have gone from the likes of sewer rats to actual human beings; discovering, laughing and (gasp) doing!
After adding a homey atmosphere to our bug container with some grass and leaves we headed for home. On our way Cru found a tiny orange ball in the crack of the sidewalk. It looked like a pellet from an air soft pellet gun. His eyes brightened as he said, "Hey, I have an idea. They can play soccer together." Cru put the ball in with the bugs.
Once we got home the boys eyed the bugs carefully. "They look sad inside this tiny container mom," Cru said. "They're not even moving." "Well, we better let them go," I said. "They don't like being trapped inside little boxes. They were meant to be outside in the fresh air, with lots of open space. It makes them happy." They were reluctant to let their prized catches go but they knew it was the right thing to do. As they tipped the container over the bugs began to scramble out and head for a group of rocks and grass nearby. Cru took the small ball he had found and set it by the rock near the bugs. "Here you go little bugs," Cru said. "Have fun." Once the bugs were out of sight we all headed back inside the house.
In my mind I could picture those bugs peeking out to see if we had left, and once the coast was clear them laughing as they grabbed the ball and organized their own game of soccer.
If you haven’t already guessed what I learned from this experience I'll tell you. The bugs and my family are very similar. Not only do we both love soccer but we also don't belong in a box! It makes us unhappy if we're inside too long. So now on those days when we're feeling low, I open the door and like Bilbo says, step out not knowing where we might be swept off to.

Leave a comment - Tell me and others what your favorite swift sanctuary is near your home and why!

"Man must live, not only exist; he must do, not merely be; he must grow, not just vegetate." - Spencer W. Kimball (Miracle of Forgiveness)
"Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play." - Herodotus, Greek historian
"The healing powers of nature are only limited by man's idleness." - Mystical Batwoman

Cross-country skiing

Since the snow won't seem to budge around here and the rest of the northern United States I thought I'd hit on one of my favorite winter activities... Cross-Country Skiing!!! I can't emphasize enough how much I love this activity. I discovered it in college but really got into it when I was pregnant with my first child. It was a great way to stay in shape during the long winter months while I had a Buddha belly. And I was able to do it right up to the day before he was born, literally, the day before. It even rivals my all time favorite pregnant yoga video, "Prenatal Yoga". Picture three pregnant ladies in leotards and one is named Poppy and she's in her third trimester. It was a workout in itself just trying to hold the poses while keeping the laughter in check. However, it always made me feel better doing either yoga with Poppy or cross-country skiing. They each made my mid-section feel stretched and relaxed. I always felt I had a little more growing room for that baby after I was done.
Cross-country skiing is also a low impact, whole body workout. Being low impact helps a lot; especially when pregnant because when you get closer to delivery your body releases a hormone that softens up the joints, and injuries can occur easily.
I also love it because you can see things you wouldn't normally be able to see in the winter. And you don't have to have the screaming engine or exhaust of a snowmobile to get you to the backcountry, just a good kick and glide.

After the baby was born I perfected my balancing skills on the skis and was able to carry him in a pack without any major wipeouts. I first used the front pack when he was an infant and then switched to the back-pack when he got older. Every time I started swaying back and forth he would fall fast asleep.
I would reccommend keeping in mind that when you do go cross-country skiing with your child you will be warm because you'll always be in motion, but the baby will get a bit chilled from just sitting in one spot. I had to learn to layer my little guy up really good. (Props for the fleece onesies)

After having my second child I desperately wanted a pull-behind sled called a Kinder Sled. But now I have a new obsession. My awesome sister-in-law and her friend just introduced me to another type of sled. See comment below It's called a Chariot Carrier. I'm drooling. They are so rad, and I use that word sparingly. They can be used for running, biking, hiking or x-country skiing!

(Pictures of Chariot courtesy of fellow outdoor nature nurturer Katy Furniss - St. Anthony, Idaho)

Our two oldest kids are big enough now that we've gotten them their own skis. We found some inexpensive options on Ebay. I got the L.L. Bean skis for my youngest. They had a snake on them and that alone made him fall in love with skiing. He wears his normal snow boots and then tightens the adjustable straps from the skis around them. My sister in law passed on a larger set of skis for my oldest. They're the older style of bindings but work as good as ever. We have hiking poles that adjust to their height and have an attachable basket. So they use those when they want to look like Mom and Dad. But most of the time they choose to not use poles. It seems to be easier for them to swing their arms. The kids certainly don't go as far or as fast as I would like but they're learning. And if I've realized anything about kids, it's that you can't push them into anything or they won't like it. So I get my longer trips in with my husband and then set out with my kids having a different goal or mind-set... not distance but discovery!

I recently took my dog Skadi with me to our local golf course and went for a short free hill glide. I quickly realized that I can control my kids on skis much more than I can control my dog. Because she was following close behind me, her front claws clicked on the back of my skis for a good three miles straight. And thanks to a dog I had before Skadi my ski poles don't look like your average cross-country poles; they look more like downhill racing poles. They're bent terribly bad because every time I would plant my pole to push off, my dog would run right into it. Although I was frustrated with Skadi's close connection with my skis I have to say it would break my heart to keep her home. She had a great time and seemed in her element, flushing a few ducks from the trees and even spooking a deer out of the bushes.

Headlamps and Glow Sticks

For Christmas we bought the boys headlamps! Best stocking stuffers we've done in a long time. I think I will stitch their names in the bands so we can distinguish between the two. They've mostly been using them for looking at books after lights out but we were able to finally use them for something more this weekend. We went to Black Dragon in the San Rafael Swell. It's a beautiful deep slot canyon that runs for miles. It has ancient drawings and lot's of different mineral deposits. Damon took us into a deep cave, located in the canyon, that he had explored earlier last summer. The boys were so excited to go that they put their headlamps on a good two hours before we got there. As we entered the cave they were a bit timid, but once we were inside they were wide eyed! It seemed they were entranced more by the ray of light coming from their lamps, than the cave itself, however. Corbin was trying to grab the particles of dust floating through the beam of light. We started chanting, "Spiders and bats, bats and spiders" A little line from our favorite Little Einsteins movie. They had to go to the deepest darkest part of the cave before we retreated. I could tell their own personal lights made them feel like little adventurers.
Glow sticks are another favorite magic item for us when camping. Damon took the boys on a father and sons camp out with some other friends. One of the dads broke out a handful of glowsticks and automatically he was the man of the hour. Since then they've become a neccesity on all camp-outs that provide hours of fun for the kids and a comforting glow during the dark night.

Bring the dog along!

Introducing...Skadi! A 50 lb. lug of hairy licking lovingness. We named her after a Norse snow goddess and ironically her name means "destruction". Like any dog she has definitely destroyed many a things at our house ranging from shoes to a hot tub cover. I won't go into that because I'm already tense just thinking about it. But even though our dog has her downfalls she is still a part of the family and that means we love her and take her almost everywhere with us!
Skadi is a yellow labrador retriever. She's about two years old. She's beginning to show signs of intelligence and control but her puppiness still shines through sometimes.
Skadi loves the outdoors. Knee deep snow, heavy brush or winding trail, she's there. When we begin to put things in the backpack and put shoes on she's turning in circles and heading for the door with excitement.
Our latest hike with Skadi was to Mary's bathtub, a steep boulder-strewn incline which follows a small creek. At the end there is a tall waterfall and cave. It lies near Joe's Reservoir, close to Huntington, Utah.
Before we even hit the trail head she was wet and muddy up to her haunches. She spent a lot of her time nosing through brush, zigging and zagging across the trail, sniffing out an earlier passerby. When she got thirsty she went pouncing into the creek lapping up the cold water. And of course she periodically would pull her little prank of choosing to shake the water all over us whenever we were near. She was good about roaming and exploring and then coming back and checking in with us though. Because of the boulders we had to climb over and the steep incline, by the time we got back to the LandRover she was exhausted. She slept all the way home.
Even though she is a dog and has natural outdoor instincts, I highly doubt she could survive very long in the wild. We try to prepare for her. We have a handy packable way to store food and water for her. We have these bowls made out of fabric, gore-tex I believe. The top bowl holds food and has a draw string cord to keep it closed tight. Another bowl attaches under that bowl with a zipper. When she's thirsty and we're not near water we simply unzip the bottom bowl and fill it with water from our Nalgenes. Much more convenient and appetizing than letting her try and lap up the water while we pour it from our own water bottles.
We usually throw her bowls in our pack when going on longer hikes. But usually we just leave it in the car.
Some people prefer to have their dog carry their own stuff. There are these nifty backs that are made for dogs that have a harness system on them. Usually they have two zipper pouches that lay on both sides of the dog. I think this would be needed especially on backcountry trips. Our personal preference is to let Skadi be free of weight. That way she can squeeze through all the crazy places she explores and jump in all the rivers she wants without us worrying about her or whatever is in the pack. But I would buy one in the future if we begin to take her on longer treks.
It makes me smile everytime I see Skadi in her natural surroundings. She reminds me of a little kid playing in a sandbox. She truly loves it. And I'm glad we can provide that time in nature for her.
I'll be posting some more about Skadi and the equipment we like in the future. But until then let me know about your dog! Leave a comment about your dog's favorite spot or what you think about backpacks for dogs. Later!

Gorilla Bars

Setting: Red Fish Lake, Stanley, Idaho
In Attendance: Family
Activity: Hiking

My husband Damon, fiance' at the time, bravely attended a camping trip with my entire family for the first time. We went on several hikes during this trip but one will stand out for all time and eternity to Damon and I. Damon wore the all covetous pack with the snacks in it, filled with licorice, granola bars, fruit roll-ups and etc. So needless to say my nieces and nephews were like ducks in a row behind him. The hike was a success. No one was lost or hurt and everyone had a great time. What made this hike memorable was due to my nephew Egan. Part way into the hike he couldn't handle it any longer. He had to have a snack..."Damon, Damon can I have a gorilla bar?" From that moment on granola bars have been dubbed "gorilla bars" and known as nothing else!


Gorilla bars are a staple at our house. They come in so many different varieties and nutricional values, the selection is limitless. Our other staple during outdoor adventures is licorice. Not full of healthy calories but yummy and perfect packability. If where we are going is close to home we pack our own lunches. One tip* if you make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches be sure to put them in a small tupperwear before putting them in a backpack. Otherwise it will end up being mashed, unrecognizable pb&j, that no one will eat. The same goes for yougurt...yes, even though it already has a lid...believe me.

In my opinion nothing is better than fresh fruit after spending time outside. I can still taste that grapefruit I peeled in the parking lot of Targhee after a great morning of snowboarding, the apple after one hour of snowshoe worthy switchbacks while in search of a frozen waterfall up Darby Canyon and the peach looking over Union Falls after a good 8 miles.
I'm a little bit plain Jane when it comes to what I eat on outdoor retreats. We usually take the same stuff every time, but I guess that's because it's what works. I would love some more ideas though.

If you have any idea's on packable yummy snacks, that are kid friendly, let me and the rest of the world know. Leave a comment.