a hike.

i have put hiking with the kids on my bucket list the last couple of years and this year we finally tested the water with just stella. on the fourth of july we woke up early and headed to our favorite hiking spot in the northbend area called rattlesnake. it is super easy and just the right length; just enough to get your heart pounding and your conscious feeling a little less guilty about the two blizzards you ate the week before. not that i am talking about me or anything.
tim carried stella in our very unused kelty and didn't hate it but didn't love it either; we had to pause and adjust ten different straps every little while till we got it feeling just right and supported in the right places. this trail was great for the parenting ego too, ha! i already know my kids are cute but it was confirmed several times by every other person on the trail who had to stop us mid climb to talk about stella's ringlets, stare into her soulful eyes, or just shout a 'she is a doll!' at us as we passed by.
at the top we enjoyed a true hikers snack of fruits and cliff bars before we started our trip back down and apparently nap time for stella. it was the perfect way to kick of the holiday!