In grade school, one of the worst punishments you could impose upon me was to send me outdoors until dinnertime. If Chrissy Long was not available to play Mary Lou Retton with, I'd just roller skate around and around the cul-de-sac, hoping for the salvation a wipeout could bring. Once back in the comfort and safety of my bedroom lair, I could rejoin Ramona, Beezus, and Nancy Drew OR resume the work of molding Barbie-sized wedding cakes out of wads of wet toilet paper if I so desired, AND I DID.
But like I said, J-dog and V-meister? Outdoor kids. They love dirt and sunshine. And back when I was pregnant for the first time and busy planning my stay-at-home-motherhood fantasy, frolicking outside was not accounted for in my short-sighted daily itinerary of: nurse baby and read books until dinnertime. So it was kind of a shock when all of a sudden I had these two kids for whom I was expected to provide, you know . . . fresh air.
Well, I don't know what happened - maybe it's the fact that I actually like our new backyard, maybe it's old age - but I'm slowly coming around to this Spending Time Outdoors concept. On more than one occasion last week I daresay I experienced an intense desire to go on a hike. (Has anyone else had this happen to them?)
I even put on sneakers and packed a picnic lunch, for crying out loud. And you know what? It was lovely. There are some really nice things outdoors, readers.
And do you know what else?
Nothing beats meandering down a mossy trail on a cool summer's day with walking stick in hand and two wonderstruck little human beings tripping along beside you.
10 comments:
I start having heart palpitations when I think that we almost chose to live in the city with no yard. Seriously. I feel like I live with two ninety pound golden retrievers. They have to go out and RUN (or crawl really fast, you know what I mean).
That hike urge hits me all the time!
Cute photo ops too!
We were so happy to find the house we did because it had a real yard (not a xeroscaped rock garden!). I am glad you are enjoying it WITH the kids now too!
We were so happy to find the house we did because it had a real yard (not a xeroscaped rock garden!). I am glad you are enjoying it WITH the kids now too!
You and me both...I don't remember ever willingly going camping - I just don't see the fun in it...sleep outside, wha? Pee behind a tree? Wha? Not take a shower? WHY?
Like you I'm slowly coming around although where we live it's hot and humid and no fun in the summer. We're just now starting to come into the tolerable outdoor weather.
cam-ping? Is that English?
Get on girl .... go mad and spend a night out there. Kids love sleeping out and you can always start 'small' by camping in the back yard. It is also a great way to stop kids from being afraid of the dark, just remind them that what they see in the day is just the same at night except darker...worked for my kids and grand kids. You can even go mad and try out some ideas at www.outdoorkidsfun.com
I'd be following those two cuties on any hiking trail. ;) They are adorable.
And what a blessing to get mommy to inhale the great outdoors.
Love that header up there, girl.
nature's not so bad, huh?
Gah, I know! My SIL is so outdoorsy, like out-of-the-house-at-8-a.m.-with-three-kids-hiking-with-packed-lunch-featuring-homemade-cookies-and-various-acoutrements-that-make-the-outdoors-a-learning-experience.
*sigh*
What I really mean to say is: Lady, you complete me.
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