Getting outdoors more with your family

My husband fondly remembers our pre-marriage days when he could move from apartment to apartment by simply packing his life possessions in the back of his Honda hatchback. 15 years, a mortgage and three kids later the same can't be said!

Unfortunately, the multiplying stuff that comes with family life isn't just true about moving residences but is often true about packing up and going anywhere - the beach, for a hike, a family vacation. And even if all you want is a weekend hike now and then it seems by the time the gear is planned and packed you're already tired out.

Something as basic and beautiful as experiencing the great outdoors together as a family shouldn't be so challenging that you don't even want to try. And it's not just the gear you think you need that is intimidating. Even more difficult can be trying to work around family schedules. So even if you can figure out what to pack it seems your childrens' (and maybe partner's) time commitments are conspiring against your goals.

But the physical, spiritual, emotional, and especially relational rewards of family adventures are too great to pass up. If it seems your schedule is too busy, you don't know where to start or the only way to get to the outdoors is with a minivan, stuffed to the gills with all the "necessities" (pulling a trailer to boot) I hope you'll read on and reconsider.

Brienne resting after a 3 hour hike up
while Daddy heats up green tea for lunch

Well friends at this point you are going to have to visit my guest post at Zen Family Habits to find out more. (tee, hee...)

Posting today at Zen Family is a big thrill for me. This is only my second guest post, my first being tips for less kid clutter at Small Notebook, a favorite blog of mine. But I do hope you'll click through and read more about getting outdoors with your family. Especially if you're one of those who has asked me in the past "how do you do this?"

Is it a lot of work to make family outdoor adventures a priority? Yes. Is it worth it? I'd answer yes, in a heartbeat. If it's not for you, that's fine; but if you are wanting to know how you might make it work in your family I encourage you read my guest post and also check out ADVENTUREinPROGRESS, our family's "outdoorsy" blog.

And that folks is about all the self promotion I can stomach in one sitting. Get outdoors, have some fun, 'nough said.