A Few Disconnected Observations from a Winter Hike

February is cold and beautiful, which is really enlivening to the senses.

The sounds of cracking ice and creaking bare trees are startling.  We were all whipping around and craning our necks to figure out the source of the sounds this morning.

I have little endurance with a whining child in a quiet forest. "Fine, you win, I'll carry you."  There's simply nothing on the trees to muffle the complaints.

The ability of a parent to give a pep talk is an invaluable skill.  I should hone it when the stakes are low.

Creation provides some fun and interesting places to pause on life's trails.  I should appreciate the rest points as much as I appreciate the trails.

 Unconventional self portraits are a fun way to cheer a tired traveler.  Well, it's pretty much worth it to cheer E in whatever way I can come up with because he's so cute when he's smiling.

 The Happy Hiker Award this morning definitely goes to J.  He was my photog, the trailblazer, and the curious scientist without a single moment of negativity.  What a great kid.