Green Mountain

So I took the kids hiking at Green Mountain today.  6.3 miles of beautiful scenery and incredible weather, albeit a little bit windy.  Admittedly, some parts of the hike were easier than others.  We started the path on the "easy part" and it was a relatively nice, calm hike: nothing too steep or stressful.  The flowers are starting to bloom and the grass is starting to perk up.  The grasshoppers and crickets were out with a vengeance and we saw a couple of different caterpillars scurrying across the path that we made sure to protect.  Here are some of the bullet points from my day today:

*Picnic lunches are a blast but are easier when you have more than one person who can carry a back pack with this many people.  Our blanket was barely big enough.  In addition, it was INCREDIBLY windy and a bit challenging to get it laid down and folded back up.  With that being said, PB&J sandwiches, trail mix and potato chips seem a little sweeter when you're eating them in a picnic.

*Spray on sunscreen is just not as efficient.  We doused ourselves in it and I still ended up sunburned.  Argh!

*Even the teeniest, most scrawny flowers in the tallest grass are beautiful at this time of year.  Vibrant yellows, purples, and other colors.  I almost want to walk the trail again a few months from now and look at how different it looks.

*Nature is at it's finest with our six and eight legged friends.  There were so many high flying grasshoppers and crickets, ants, and caterpillars around.  The kids wanted desperately to take a caterpillar home but I explained to them that some things are better left in nature.  The butterflies will be happier in their homes.  We can observe it and that's fine but leave it where it is.

*Bikers are CRAZY out there.  We regularly had to jump off the trail to accommodate a biker (or jogger) but EVERY one of them was courteous and kind about it, thanking us and being very friendly.

*It is very easy to distract kids from worrying about how tired they are if you interest them in something else.  My motivator was telling a story and letting someone else take over part of the way through.  I think my favorite moment was Syd telling the story and saying, "And she used her super power to give her brother a bonk on the head because he wouldn't stop interrupting." Hahahaha.   They're funny but they sure do love each other.

*It's enormously fun to make your teenage daughter roll her eyes at you for telling her that the giant rock formation is Tyrannosaurus dookie.  If that's the worst thing she does as a teenager, I can't complain much.

*My butt, legs and feet are SO sore.  I definitely need a new pair of running shoes because mine are worn WAY too thin.  I'm definitely in need of a hot oil massage and a bath.

*Colorado is an amazing place.  There is always something to look at and explore.  This particular trip was under 10 miles from my house :)