Tot Tip Tuesday - 5 Fav Hiking Tips with Kids

Hiking with kids of any age is different in so many ways than hitting the trails with your friends. Here are our top 5 favorite hiking hacks with the kiddies in tow.

1. Have patience and be flexible 
You might not make it 1/2 a mile up the trail before you are dealing with meltdowns and tantrums, be patient and try to distract the kids with pointing out wildlife, rivers, or snacks.

2. Bring the essentials
First aid kit, sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, water, extra clothes, special walking stick, etc.

3. Let the kids set the pace 
Put yourself in their shoes and remember that their stubby short legs take 3 steps for every one of yours.

4. Call for rest stops often
Be sure to call for rest stops before the kids ask for them and remember to praise them on how well they are doing. Most often those of us packing the babies need more rest stops than the kids.

5. Pick the right trail
Choose a trail with features that interest kids. While hiking, teach the kids to be observers by looking for signs of wildlife, (paw prints, bird feathers, water along the trail etc.)

Happy Tuesday!
IG: @megynjordyn

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Christmas Tree Farm Pics, Tips, and Tricks

Christmas Vacation, one of our all time favorite movies, opens with disgruntled teenagers in the back seat as Mom and Dad merrily sing Christmas Carols while driving out to the middle of nowhere to hand pick a Christmas tree. 

While we LOVE the idea of fresh cut Christmas trees, we have little ones and don't need the Chevy Chase drama of cutting down our own tree in the mountains. Because in all seriousness, it would turn into something quite similar. Enter, Christmas Tree farms. They are popping up everywhere and should you do a little digging you are sure to find one in your neck of the woods.

The great thing about the farm we visit every year is they open their gates Labor Day weekend and remain open for a month or so for tree picking in the beautiful fall weather. That way when winter hits your pre picked tree is tagged and waiting for you to cut down and take home. Should you change your mind simply remove the tag and pick another.

A few pictures from our recent tree tagging adventure; doughnuts, tikes, and family included. 

We also included a few (learn from experience) tips for picking your own tree should you decide to give it a try this year.

Christmas Tree Farm Tips N Tricks

Call the Farm BEFORE you visit to check on hours, tree availability, and if they offer cut your own trees or just pre-cut during the holiday season.

Bring your camera. You'll want pictures of your tree picking adventure. Also, most Christmas tree farms have marked rows. Take a picture of the row number your tree is on so you can return to it quickly rather than wander the forest again.

Wear comfortable shoes. No flip flops. The ground is uneven, covered in pine needles and you'll want a decent shoe to walk around in.

Bring a layer. Christmas tree farms can be chilly so bring a sweater or jacket.

Throw a sharpie marker or other permanent ink pen in your bag. Just in case. Sometimes the pens at the farms don't work so great, and you want your tag to be clearly seen when you go back to claim your tree.

If you forgo a farm and head out to the mountains/wilderness to cut your tree check for Christmas Tree permits, private property, and where it is legal to cut trees. No need to be fined during the happiest time of year.

Take your time. Leave yourself plenty of time to meander, enjoy the weather, the atmosphere, and being with family.

Make it a tradition. Make it yours. Go the the same place yearly. Go to a different place yearly.  Take a family picture in the same spot every year. Be creative, and make it fun.

Add food. We stop for doughnuts after picking is our tree and again the day we bring it home. Go out to eat at a fun local place, start the day with a big family breakfast, bring a picnic, have hot chocolate if weather calls for it, anything to add just a little more sweetness to the day.

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Peach Pickin and Cobbler Eatin Weekend

Took the crew to do some peach picking this weekend in Brigham City. Meaning you pick your peaches from a fruit stand. My husband worked in produce before he went to college and so the man knows his stuff. He claims that the women in the town came in and asked for his advice to pick the perfect fruit or vegetable. I'm convinced it had more to do with his good looks than anything but I wasn't there so who's to say. :)

He picked our basket of peaches and we were soon on our way. As a side note directly across the street from Pauls Patch Fruit Stand is a restaurant and drive in called Maddox's. If you ever have the chance to stop at either, do it! They have the best steaks, seafood, chicken. Everything, is so so good. We opted for the Wendy's drive thru as we had littles with us and the restaurant wait looked long.

Once home my husband threw together one of his cobbler concoctions and it was delicious with the fresh peaches. I know there are oodles of recipes out there for cobblers and peach cakes but this one was easy and definitely worth the try if you are up for a new one. You'll need fresh peaches, a yellow cake mix, sugar, cinnamon, and dutch oven and charcoals.

 Peel your peaches, cut them in wedges, and line the bottom of your dutch oven or liner. Liners make it easier to clean up.

Sprinkle sugar on the top of the peaches. About 1/4 cup

 Pour prepared cake mix over the top of the peaches.

Sprinkle cinammon on the top of the cake mix. Little hands and feet not needed to make the cobbler just a bonus for you.

Charcoal Briquette Starters make getting your charcoals ready so easy. You can get them at any sports /camping store or just at Target for $10. Charcoals go in top, newspapers lit down below and you have some toasty coals ready for cooking.

Place hot briquettes on the top and bottom of the dutch oven and let her cook. About an hour.  When you can start to smell it, its pretty close to done. You may want to check it but remember that if you lift the lid to early you lose your heat and the cake may fall.

 Scoop onto plates, add ice-cream and enjoy.

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