So, we went hiking

I was evaluating our family the other day.  You know what I'm talking about: what our priorities are, what they should be, the things we spend most of our time doing... that kind of thing.

I realized that our family time that we spend together has become mostly watching movies together.  With Orrin's crazy schedule, the girls' school, sports, clubs, church activities, etc.  we've just had to cram our family togetherness into small windows of time when everyone is actually at home.  This is usually right before bedtime on a week night.  

I decided that we were going to find something else that we can do all together that didn't involve sitting brainless in front of the TV. 

OP and I talked about it and decided that since we've spent right around 10 years talking about becoming an outdoorsy-family, we might as well do something about it. 

And this is where I start grimacing.  I am not an outdoorsy person.  I don't like wild animals, I don't like bugs, I don't like dirt.  I realize that I am such a wimp, but it's true.  But for my kiddos, I've decided to toughen up and just get over it.

OP strapped on this old backpack-carrier that I had bought from a neighbor for $5 in the yard sale (score!), I loaded a back pack up with water and lunchables, and we headed over to San Tan Regional Park.

And we went hiking.

Yes, yes, we started off on the Little Leaf trail that was maybe a mile long, but it was a good start for us.  Baby steps.

I was extremely wary- looking all around us for any signs of a rattler.  The only living creature we saw was a tiny lizard.  Thank Heavens.

The girls just about wet their pants when they saw this branch chilling on the side of the path.  Piper jumped about a mile into the air and Adi screamed, "SNAKE!"

We took in the desert around us and tried to find the beauty in it (we had adjusted to the greenery and flowers in Utah- it's hard to find this starkness attractive).  The kids were fascinated by the cacti. 

Orrin told the kiddos all about the plants that we passed.

Piper was in the lead for most of the hike.  She loves the outdoors.  She loves touching the plants, digging in the dirt for rocks, trying to catch lizards, looking for adventure.  Pretty much the exact opposite of her mother.

 

Porter was jumping around, fighting invisible foes, pointing out potential snake dens in the ground, and soaking up his time with Dad. 

Adi mostly studied the map and filled us in on what the state bird is, the state flower, and where a cactus keeps water.  She's learning so much in school.

Wyatt loved the backpack.  He sat back there talking up a storm and drooling on Dad's neck.

Orrin loved being in the desert and studying the vegetation.

And where was I?  I was in the back, trying not to squeal at every movement I saw in my peripheral, and focusing on not tripping on one of the rocks in the path.  I was like a ninja.

Ok, I might have stumbled a few times, but I never went down.  I was also doing the important work of documenting our hike with my camera.

We lunched on the trail.  Thank goodness for conveniently placed picnic tables.

On our way out we stopped in the visitors center and checked out the creatures they have caged there.

And we met a rattlesnake.

I'm pretty sure that he's thinking, "If this glass wasn't here I'd be sinking my teeth into you right now."

Everyone actually enjoyed the hike (although OP said that since we're going to start doing this more often we would have to invest in a better backpack carrier).  Even me.  Mostly because I love watching my family laugh and enjoy themselves.. but still, I'm willing to go again.

And next time we're gonna graduate to the Goldmine Trail.