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Fall Hiking Products for Families

September 17, 2012 by 3 Comments
Velocity-by-Vasque

As the weather cools, we Arizonans breathe a sigh of relief. We sit out in the garage, with a bowl of tortilla chips and medium salsa - playing with chalk and riding bikes until the orange sorbet sunset surprises us. We hold out hope that soon we will be able to pull out our boots and sweatshirts. Fall marks the beginning of many things. For our family, it most notably marks the beginning of hiking season! Beginning very shortly, you'll probably find our family of five out in the wilderness … [Read more...]

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Camp Sleep-Too-Little

August 16, 2010 by 30 Comments
tents-at-mt-lemmon

What do you get when you combine a tent, a 17-month-old, a 3-year-old, a lot of friends, and a beautiful mountaintop? If you answered, "NO SLEEP," you're right. If you answered, "A REALLY GOOD TIME," you are also right. Our church has a yearly tradition where we cancel our "normal" services and have a service up at Mt. Lemmon instead, followed by a huge picnic. We also reserve the campground the night before for anyone who wants to brave the elements. So, we went - carrying our gigantic … [Read more...]

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Nanny Nature

June 25, 2010 by 49 Comments
reading-while-wearing-a-tutu

It's harder to be a parent in the summer in Arizona. For me anyway. In the spring, fall, and winter ---> I have "help" with the kids. No, I'm not talking about a nanny, an Au pair, a daycare, or even school. I'm talking about NATURE. She accompanies us all through the day, teaching my kids so many lessons about beauty, growth, sorrow, and kindness. For nine months of the year, we spend HOURS outside every day. Walking. Hiking. Skipping. Running. Biking. Gathering Flowers. Going on … [Read more...]

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hike to bridal wreath falls

June 12, 2010 by 19 Comments
bridal-falls

3 miles there. 3 miles back. 6 miles total. We see deer (three of them!), rabbits, squirrels, multicolored lizards, spiderwebs, and a bird's nest. When we get to the falls, there isn't any water (but there IS plenty of shade). We munch on trail mix, Clif Bars, fruit roll-ups, and yogurt-covered raisins. Then, Tim asks, "Should we pray together?" "YES!" our 3-year-old says. "What should we talk to God about?" he asks. "Thank him for all this beautiful stuff?!?" she answers enthusiastically, … [Read more...]

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How we spent our Saturday: hiking 7 falls

May 8, 2010 by 16 Comments
seven-falls-tucson-hike-with-baby

This photo was taken at approximately 2:15pm today - after a 6-MILE hike with the girls. Note my flushed cheeks from the warm weather (the high was 86 degrees today). We hiked up Seven Falls in Bear Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains. And this is "real" hiking - with stream crossings, rock-hopping, and trekking uphill. At the end of the trail, there are waterfalls (hence the name) and pools for swimming (but fair warning - the water is c-c-cold). The hike was totally fun - and it was … [Read more...]

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Nature Calls

May 2, 2010 by 23 Comments
sitting-on-a-log

Yesterday, we went on a 2-hour hike as a family. We crunched leaves, skipped rocks over a creek, listened to the wind whisper through the trees, touched tree bark, and marveled at the majesty of Nature. As we wandered up-and-over, around-and-across, I thought to myself, "THIS is what childhood should be. This discovery, this simplicity, this uncontaminated beauty." What is childhood without nature - without the sweet sunlight on your cheeks, the dirt beneath your feet, and the smooth rocks … [Read more...]

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FOR HIM: Alpha Pac boots by Sorel

November 30, 2009 by 107 Comments
man in black jacket

There are cold weather people and there are warm weather people. Tim is the former and I am the latter. He likes trudging through the snow and ice, wearing bulky jackets, and sipping hot coffee. I like basking in the sunshine, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, and sipping icy lemonade. That said, we both can appreciate the perspective of the other. I, for example, DO understand the magnificence of a quiet morning of snowflakes floating unhurriedly from the sky. I DO like wearing pea … [Read more...]

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Cool, man! Oops, I mean…Coleman

June 1, 2008 by 511 Comments

When I think of family camping products, I think of Coleman. They offer such a wide array of products at affordable prices (which all families can appreciate!). I recently had the opportunity to review the Coleman Evanston 14' x 12' tent ($189.99). It sleeps 8 and is really tall so you can walk around and change clothes in the tent with ease. No trying to wrestle your jeans on to your bum in a half-reclined position! The tent also features an adjustable air ventilation system to increase … [Read more...]

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