We have been busy making room for new baby at our house this past week. And let me tell you– making room for baby number four has been a big undertaking.
My husband no longer has an office in the home, but as he says, it’s for a good reason. All his books and wall-mounted shelves had to be moved. Lots and lots and LOTS OF BOOKS! There has been moving of furniture and the cleaning out of many closets.
The resulting mess overtook our house for a week. Trash bags and boxes and piles to sort through in every room.
The work hasleft us all rather exhausted and despite my daily intentions to sit down and write for the blog, the days keep filling up quick .
All this work has also meant spending many days inside because when my house is covered in trash bags and Goodwill piles, I’m eager to get back to a normal level of tidy sooner than later.
Today has finally marked the day when there has been enough carpet showing to vacuum (all the piles are gone!) and I reserved time in the morning to bake a couple loaves of bread for lunch. The sky may still be ominously dark outside, but inside it feels like the sun is out and shining on our clean surfaces.
Now that the task of switching rooms is complete, I am ready to give myself a break from projects for a few weeks. The month of June is going to be busy enough without any added work around the house.
My oldest turns five this month. Let the party planning begin!
We hope to go strawberry picking at least once or twice more. I still have pop-tarts to make and more fresh strawberry crisp to enjoy.
Then there are swim lessons, vacation Bible school, and making plenty of time to get outside and play.
Last week I encouraged us all to prioritize getting outside together with our kids– not just for playgrounds and popsicles, but to get out into nearby natural spaces and have the freedom to explore and play.
I just read this list of tenscience-backed reasons to get your kids outside yesterday. It’s remarkable how something so simple as letting kids play outdoors can affect their development so much. From less stress to better eyesight and even to improved attention spans– the effort to get outside is worth it.
And one of the easiest ways to get out is to go on simple day hikes together.
I am certain that we all have access to areas to hike or go on nature walks in our towns and many more just an hour or more away. Quiet gems of walking trails waiting to be explored. Scenic views waiting to be appreciated.
If you need help figuring out where to go, google it, ask a friend, or visit your state or city’s parks and recreation page. The point is just to GO!
You can find our simple packing list for day hikes with a baby, toddler and preschooler (or is that a toddler and two preschoolers?) on Day 2 Day Joys blog.
Keep reading for a round-up of trail friendly recipes at the bottom of this post.
This series on giving our kids a taste of the “real” magic kingdom will continue with several more posts on adventuring together in rivers and streams, bug control, staying (not-too) safe, and more. If you have favorite activities to do outdoors with your kids, or questions or fears keeping you away, please share in the comments. I’d love to hear your input too!
If wondering what to pack for snacks or meals on the trail is keeping you home, check out these real food ideas for a fueling snack or filling mid-hike meal.
Fueling Snacks:
- Carrot Raisin Muffins (pictured above) ll This Pilgrim Life
- Chocolate Oat Cereal Bars ll Simple Bites
- Almond Power Bars ll Kitchen Stewardship
- Dark Chocolate Super Grain Bars ll This Pilgrim Life
- Fruit and Nut Grain-Free Bars ll Nourishing Home
- Simple Garden Salsa& chips ll This Pilgrim Life
- Chocolate-Cranberry Energy Bites ll My Blessed Life
- Popped Quinoa Trail Mix ll Real Healthy Recipes
- Spiced Pumpkin Seed and Cashew Crunch ll Bon Appetit
- Pumpkin Muffins with Chocolate Chips ll Deliciously Organic
Mid-Hike Meals:
- Sweet Broccoli Salad(pictured above) ll This Pilgrim Life
- Five Twists on Cheesy Quesadillas ll This Pilgrim Life
- Simple Quesadillas ll The Humbled Homemaker
- Chicken Caesar Wraps ll Intentional By Grace
- Green Pea Hummus & pita chips ll This Pilgrim Life
- Hard boiled eggs
- Classic Chicken Salad Wraps ll Love Grows Wild
- Southwest Hummus Wraps ll Chef-in-Training
- Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches
- Sugar Snap Pea Pasta Salad ll The Humbled Homemaker
No Cook Food Ideas:
- Fresh fruit, especially apples and oranges
- Cheese slices
- Hummus & pretzels
- Variety of seeds, nuts & dried fruit
- Carrot, celery and/or sweet pepper sticks and ranch
- Fruit leather
- Tuna packets and crackers
- Peanuts
- Beef jerky
- Popcorn
Check out these other posts in the series!
- One Thing Our Children Need This Summer
- Day Hiking with Kids & Real Food Recipes for the Trail
- Natural Remedy Round-Up
- Bringing the Outdoors Home: Ideas for Continued Learning
- Favorite Resources
