adventures of the miebs family: "it's a bootiful day up in mountains"

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

"it's a bootiful day up in mountains"

yes ok, i haul my kids up mountains. a lot. jb went on his first hike when he was 7 months old, strapped to my back with great thanks to a kelty purchase. then before i knew it, he was ready to clamber up himself, but needing much supervision on our descents. that was last year. this summer? he's a big boy, rarely needing help up or down. (unless of course, if it's one of those dreaded whiney days...) now, he points to pioneer peak and proclaims: i hike dat with dada, you stay back home with duey. where motherhood used to consist of my babes going where i wanted to go and doing what i wanted to do, i'm now referring to jb to call some shots. and most days, he wants to go hike up in mountains, mama. i love it.

since jack was a tiny tot, he noticed the scenery surrounding us from all sides. probably because i never stop praising them, he now carries on most mornings during our ride to school about the mountains so pretty or it's bootiful day up in the mountains. once, he told me he wanted to hug them. what a precious boy.

this day, after countless days of midwest-style rainstorms, the clouds rolled on and left us with stunning blue skies and warmth from the sun - my version of perfect hiking weather, but it does make for instantly-sticky-sweaty situations. so on this trip, the kids were extra whiney, but reaching the top, they were suddenly filled with energy, jumping from rock cluster to rock cluster, scarfing sandwiches, picking wildflowers and playing in the long grass. and the other great thing about the sunshine and a hike? guarantees a solid afternoon snooze. us mama's live for those nap times, huh?