Our first hike 2009

Ah... once the fog lifted this morning we saw some wonderfully blue skies and sunlight streaming through some wispy clouds. Wow, what luck! And it was Saturday too! Nothing beats a sunny day in the Northwest I tell you.

So...on went the sneakers, sweatpants, hoodies, and SUNGLASSES! We headed out for a hike in the woods. Nothing too extreme for our first outing this year... just headed to the next town where they have the best, relatively flat, well tended hiking paths to get our blood pumping. We also chose this path because after a couple of miles, it conveniently passes very near a quaint cafe that overlooks the river. We were famished after all of our tromping in the dirt and deserved a little grub of burgers and onion rings don't ya think? I just kept telling myself that I would burn the calories on our journey back. OK...maybe not enough but who cares, those were some darn fine onion rings worthy of every calorie.

It felt so good to be outside. The boys were happily discovering nature again. Sword fighting with giant branches, skipping over mud puddles, tossing rocks into the river, and hollering in the tunnels trying to make their mother cringe. It was all good. I do love living in the Northwest. I just wish we didn't have to spend so much time indoors dodging all the rain and misty gray weather. I guess I just have to remind myself that this misty gray weather is what makes everything so unbelievably green and lovely when the sun finally decides to show up!

One of my new year's "resolutions" is to spend more time hitting the trails. It's fun, free (unless you load up on lunch!), and my boys are the perfect ages for making the adventures hassle free and enjoyable. It is a great activity to share...bonding with nature and eachother!