first hike with all three

One of our favorite things about our neighborhood is the nature trail that's close to our house. We've been going to it for years and have so many memories there. In our "early days" before having kids, we'd take Harley there twice a day on most days, and watch the sunset there after work. When Larkin came along, we packed up the jogging stroller and walked the whole trail almost every day. We went so often that we even had "trail friends"--people that we met while walking the trail and who usually walked it each day at the same time we did. Once Willa came along it was more of a challenge to get there regularly, but we still would go at least once or twice a week.

This past summer was a brutal one, and then with being pregnant and then having a newborn--we hadn't been to the trail together in months. So one afternoon I decided it was time to go! Joel was at work but I loaded all three girls and the dog into the car and drove off to tackle the trail.

Here we go!

No walk is complete without the "perfect stick"

Willa marking the trail "in case we get lost"

snack time!

I had Sadie is a baby carrier on my chest and we all walked the entire trail--which is over a mile long! We did pass someone on the trail and I was tempted to ask him to take a picture of all of us because I was feeling quite accomplished! I didn't ask him though-but I wish I had.

Once we got back to the van, Sadie woke up and laughed for Larkin. I wouldn't call it a full laugh, but it was the closest she's gotten to one. Thankfully I had my iphone in my pocket and captured the moment!

Afterwards Larkin said, "Mom, I taught her how to laugh, and now I've got to get busy on teaching her lots of other things!"

We drove home and later that night when I was tucking everyone in bed, I realized that I hadn't seen Harley in a while. Yep--I had left him in the car for three hours!! Regardless, the trip was still a big accomplishment in my book!