Stop, look, listen

A lot of folks ask me how to get kids to enjoy hiking. To me that's like asking how to get kids to enjoy reading...it depends on your ultimate goal. Early on, Tim and I realized that we enjoyed different parts of hiking: Tim likes the physical challenge of a tough hike of long miles followed by a good meal. Cold and rain only make it even better. I, on the other hand, enjoy looking at birds, flowers and chatting with other hikers we come across. We both love the connection that being in nature give us to our "right sized" place in this world. Successful hiking with kids involves both

With young kids, I think it is important to realize that the primary joy they will get from hiking while it is happening is finding and discovering things: a frog, a big rock, a sign. Then of course there are always those special treats that only seem to show up on hikes: peanut M&Ms, honey and peanut butter wraps, etc. It is only after the hike itself that they seem to revel in the challenge completed.

If you think about it, it isn't unlike the many other challenges young children face everyday. Using the potty, buttoning their shirt, writing letters. The process is often full of frustration and patience and pacing are important. But once you are done, nothing beats the sense of accomplishment a kid exudes when he proclaims, "Look what I did, Mom!"

Why Is It...

Why is it that whenever I don't have a camera with me, we see the most unusual things? I suppose I should start from the beginning. I had the best intentions this morning of doing craft time at the library and then heading out for a few hours of play and picnic at one of the many local parks. I'm finally getting around to reading Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv and am feeling even more inspired to make sure my kids get plenty of time with nature.

So we woke up, dressed, threw a load of laundry in downstairs, and had breakfast. We were all set to head off for our planned adventure when, as often happens, life had other plans for us. Tim had accidentally gone to work this morning with our car keys in his backpack.

Desperate not to give up so soon on my resolve to spend more time outdoors, I took the boys on a little walk around the office park that encircles our hotel. It is still Iowa you know and the development is surrounded by corn fields and woods. The funny thing about walking when you aren't going anywhere and don't have a set time frame--you start to see things. Sure enough we saw something...goose poop. And lots of it. Then we began to notice goose feathers too. Xavier spotted first the rarest of finds. A goose egg! I have no idea why it was there and I imagine the mama goose was long gone on her flight south for the winter. I just wish I had brought the camera but even then I'm not sure a photo would have captured the amount of awe and wonder we all had at the discovery. It was as if we had found a secret door into fairyland or a leprechaun.

Lake Radcliff

Last month we took a day trip to the Lake Radcliff Recreation Area in the Davy Crockett National Forest. Tim and I packed up hiking clothes, snacks and the backpack in the truck before going to Mass on Sunday so we could make the 1.5-2 hour trip right after leaving church. The autumn colors were just beginning to show--as much as they show at all in southeast Texas that is.

Lake Radcliff is a wonderful outdoor resource. The entry and camping prices are very reasonable. During the summertime you can swim in the man-made lake. There are separate camper and tent camping areas so we like that it is relatively quiet unlike, say, Village Creek. The tent sites have easy access to water and flush toilets too. By the lake they have boat rentals, a snack bar, and a changing area. The best part of this area in my opinion though are the wonderful trails.

We hiked along the Tall Pines trail for about 1.5 miles and then circled back on the 4 C's trail for a total of about 3 miles. Xavier walked the whole way. He enjoyed looking at the huge pine trees, looking for acorns, and seeing beetles and bugs that I pointed out to him. And of course, he always looks forward to the trail snacks.

We plan to go back this month for a tent-camping overnight trip with the boys. The last time we did this I was about 4 months pregnant with Jack! We've just been waiting for it to get cool enough to enjoy.

Self portrait.

Tall pines indeed!

A treasure on the trail.

Xavier enjoying an orange.

Jack loves the backpack.

Camping with the Kiddos

Last weekend we took the boys camping at Village Creek State Park. It was our first time camping in nearly a year and Jack's first time ever. The weather was perfect: overcast and breezy. Positively chilly by Texas standards.

After setting up the tent and organizing the gear, we took the boys on a 1.5 mile hike past a slough. As far as I can tell, a slough is a fancy word for a ditch. We saw lots of birds and Xavier even spied a bunny rabbit. For an afternoon snack I gave the boys pudding: vanilla for Jack and chocolate for Xavier. The caffeine in the chocolate must have made a beeline to Xavier's brain as he spent the next hour or so running around the tent.

Unfortunately, Jack is still putting everything in his mouth these days so he spent most of the time in a backpack carrier or the arms of Mom or Dad.

Getting the boys settled down at night was a bit of a challenge. We made the mistake of forgoing a bath time ritual which resulted in neither boy wanting to go to bed. Xavier frantically tore off his pajamas (I stopped him when he was getting ready to rip off his diaper) and insisted on putting his dirty t-shirt and bluejeans back on. He slept in them.

Jack woke up around 4 a.m. and was just about to tackle his sleeping brother when I whisked him out of the tent. After an hour and a half of shushing and rocking, we both went back to sleep. We didn't wake up again until 7:30 a.m.

I was reminded that it was five years ago to the day that Tim and I went on our first camping trip together in the Shenandoah Mountains just outside of Washington, D.C. I remember waking up on the second morning of our trip and thinking to myself, "If this guy asks me to marry him, I think I'd say yes." Sure enough, about three months later, he did and I did. Wow, how time flies.

All in all, the trip was a huge success. Next time we'll just put the boys down a little later after a sponge bath and only bring vanilla pudding.

How I Spent My Spring Vacation

What a fantastic treat it was to be able to take off a week and half to go to North Carolina with my family. Xavier is quite the little car traveller. Jack needs a little more time to adjust. Poor thing just needs a break every hour or so. As a result we spent two more days in transit than originally planned. We even briefly considered turning around and going back to Texas but thankfully decided to sleep on that decision. We turned the corner that night.

I jokingly called this the Meet the (Grand)Parents tour as it was the first opportunity for Jack to meet my Dad and stepmom (Papa & MiMi) and my in-law's (Grandma & Grandpa). Of course the boys were just spoiled silly with gifts, hugs and kisses. Xavier warmed up to his Papa who fed him full of eggs, biscuits and toast for breakfast. Grandma's gift of a cement truck is still being slept with by Xavier.

My folks generously let us use their cottage in Highlands as our "home base." for the trip. The views of the mountain range in the morning and sunsets in the evening were breathtaking. We had a great hike on Whiteside Mountain. The next day we took it a little easier and did the walking trail at the Highland's nature center. I enjoyed all the labelling they have on the plants and trees. It makes me want to prepare a little more for our next trip so Xavier can learn some new words. The last day in the mountains we actually drove just across the border to SC where we found an incredible trail. It is about 72 miles long and runs from Georgia to South Carolina. Tim and I think it would make a great backpacking route once the boys are a bit older.

The biggest revelation of the this trip is that if we are going to drive to North Carolina, we need to spend much, much more time there. Next year we hope to spend a few weeks there.

Goose Island State Park

Tim, Xavier and I got back home last night after a wonderful family vacation to Goose Island State Park just outside of Corpus Christi, TX. The location of our trip was determined fairly last minute (one day before departure). Originally we had thought about heading over to hill country to enjoy the bluebonnets in bloom. Unfortunately about half of Texas also had the same idea and all the camping grounds in that area were booked. After a search of places a few hours away where a burn ban was not in effect, Goose Island was the only park on the short list.

The drive down was nice and Xavier managed to get through it with only a few crying jags. He did however end up with a diaper rash despite frequent changes.

Goose Island is a hot spot for fishermen and birders. By the time we arrived, it was booked to capacity. A short walk around and you could see why. It was a beautifully maintained park and it was bursting with birds. There were pelicans by the bay as well as gulls, spoonbills and terns. In the woodlands area, where we camped, cardinals, warblers, verios and other songbirds reigned.

Xavier loved to crawl around on the grass or cruise along the picnic table. He waved at puppy dogs and their owners as they passed by our site and generally charmed most of the retirees. Toegether we mastered the new word, "yucky," which was our new cue for "take that out of your mouth or I will take it out for you." Our yucky list consisted of oak leaves, random sticks, and dirt. His favorite thing to do in the park was to ride on Dad's back in the carrier. After sufering the torture of Mom putting sunscreen all over his face and limbs and being forced to wear the dreaded sunhat, he'd sit back and relax as Dad walked up and down the park paths.

One of the joys of camping is that it has a way of slowing down and simplifying the day. Without the whir of television, telephones, internet or radios, Tim and I took a break from politics, New York sex scandals, and NCAA basketball. My watch stopped halfway through the trip and it was really no big deal. We get up with the birds and go to sleep with the sun. Making our breakfast and dinner each day provided most of the structure we had. Even Xavier seemed to nap more consistantly than he does at home.


Camping is the opposite of a luxury, full-service vacation. There is no room service, no spa, no bell hop. We had a short walk to the bathrooms and showers and took small grocery bags of our garbage to the dumpster several times a day to prevent being too popular with the squirrel and racoon population. But being that close to nature and that free from all the unnecessary things in life (including luxuries) bring with it a precious gift: peace.


Of course, we ventured out from the park too. I'll post about those outings later on. Back home our vacation has made me all the more grateful for the many blessings in our life. I am struck by how much larger and vast our home appears to me upon our return. As we transition out of vacation mode, little amenities that often go unappreciated like indoor plumbing and a soft mattress are exchanged for the serenity that only time spent in the woods can bring.

Ah Wilderness

Tim and I decided to celebrate Labor Day today by taking baby Xavier on his first hike in the Big Thicket woods. He's still too little for the baby backpack carrier so we tooled him around on the trails in the swanky Zooper Boogie that PawPaw and MiMi gave him.

At first Xavier was more interested in examining the interior of the stroller than gazing at the flora and fauna. After about five minutes or so, he seemed to realize that he was in a completely new place and not just strolling around the neighborhood or his backyard. Tim walked ahead of us and used a long stick to wipe away the cobwebs across the trail. Xavier went back and forth from looking at the trees and birds to looking at me and smiling.

About halfway through our short hike, we stopped to take in the view while Xavier had a little snack. Despite this, he started to cry a little before we got back to the trailhead. I imagine it gave all the animals in the woods a new experience to hear that! He needed a dry diaper and was due for a nap, both of which he got when we returned to the car.

All in all, it was a very successful trip. Considering Tim and I courted and honeymooned in the wilderness, it was a special experience to bring our son out there for the first time.