Hike'n it

It was a gorgeous day on Saturday, so we decided to take a hike.  We haven't done one in forever (I really actually can't remember when) and Rowdy and I had been talking about wanting to be that family.  The family that is outside--doing things that you do outside--like hiking.  BUT- in Seattle it rains.  A lot.  So doing this outside thing isn't always a possibility.

But Saturday it was lovely (hopefully a sign of Summer,) and heaven thankyou Rowdy didn't have anything school-related going on.  We looked up a hike that said "kid friendly" with reviews expressing "moderate and easy."  In our mind, that meant more of a "jaunt on a trail."  A perfect start.

We were wrong.  It was 2 miles each way with a gorgeous view of a lake at the top, but people, it was a HIKE.  

I mean, I wasn't huffing and puffing or anything, but it was so crowded and narrow on the path that we had to hold the kids hands most of the time for fear of them falling down a cliff.  Brianna's knee hurt from a fall the day before so that was a fun complaining session in and of itself. And by the time we were done my legs hurt.  Actually, they still hurt.

We learned a few things:

1. Unless it says walking trail--it is a hike.

2. Take your picnic lunch to eat at the half-way point.  That way your kids don't freak out on you and complain that they are hungry and that every other person around you was smart enough to bring their sandwiches. 

3.  Get hiking shoes.  That way you won't slip 3 times on the way down and fear for your death.  And so your son won't tell you that you are "a really big fall-er."

4. Don't go grocery shopping and then on a date after wards because, people...it's just too much in one day.

5. Hike more.  Because you are that family, after all.

View from the top of Rattlesnake Ridge