Back to Nature!

So the weekend after the theme park we decided to take the girls up to the mountains in the Shenandoah and go hiking! Justin grew up in Oregon in a town surrounded by wilderness and mountains...I did not. I grew up in the Texas Hill Country, and the only hiking I had ever done was up the trail at enchanted rock **still a great time and if you're in central TX you've gotta do it!!**

We made the hour drive to the mountains, and began the hike. I was a little hesitant about how Madi would do with being carried all the way up, and we would still be on the way up if she was walking herself. But she did great! She rode all the way up and down the mountain on Justin's shoulders.
Bethany, who is not a nature girl when it comes to bugs so this could have been bad...but she also did great! She complained less than we expected and completed the full hike! She only fell down a few times, and by the end I think she learned how to avoid the sticks on the ground that were tripping her up. I absolutely loved the hike! I love being outside and this was right up my alley! I love the trees and the smells, and the little creeks and streams that are all around! It was beautiful!! My first hike will certainly not be my last!

I know this blog is intended to be about health and fitness and this post as well as the last have a lot to do with family. I am posting these things because as we improve our health we are able and willing to do more active things with our kids! It is awesome!

I want my kids to lead active lifestyles, to see past the television to the world around them, and put the laptops down and find true adventure.

I also post these things to encourage you to get out and play with your kids. Ask them to join you for your workouts, teach them about fitness from the get go, so they don't have to fight an uphill battle for health like so many of us!

Bethany is a morning person...like a really early morning person. She usually gets up about an hour before Madison and I (as in 6am, she's crazy). The last 2 mornings I have come down to the living room to find my yoga mat out on the floor. She did her kids' yoga workouts on her own, and was folding laundry. Just gotta say...awesome kid!

I wear a fitbit everyday to track my steps and fitness each day....we logged 7 miles at Kings Dominion (not including the water park), we hiked 4.35 mi on the mountains and 615 feet!! Family fun days can be a great way to get your workouts in!