slacklining, archery and trail running

Easter Sunday was a beautiful sunshiny day.

we went to church in the morning.

a friend asked if the trails at Limberlost would be good for running, or still too snow covered.

that got us thinking about possibly checking them out.

i had been fighting a fever, sore throat, headache all weekend so my wonderful husband decided that to make lunch easier (and less cleanup) he'd make it over a campfire.

he got the fire going and found a grill to put over it.

i sliced the ham, and potatoes, and opened the canned corn.  

we headed outside to enjoy the afternoon.

he had the slackline set up, 

an archery target,

our little girl bought this with her Easter money from her Papa

and the gt was also available - which my boy was taking full advantage of it in his shorts and t-shirt.

while the meal cooked we enjoyed the sunshine, campfire, and the activities listed above.

my boy bought this multi-tool with his easter money

it was a beautiful day.

even with snow in the yard it was so nice to be out there.

i had barefeet in my winter boots - - as i do most of the winter - - but that day it was specifically so i could enjoy the slackline.

we were talking about checking out the Limberlost trails, later in the afternoon.

we began to get excited about going... hopefully the kids would feel the same.

waiting for lunch to be ready

about an hour before going we told the kids that we were going to go for a hike.

the girl was excited.

the boy not so much.

until he heard where we were going.

off we went.

running shoes - not boots.

we were going, hopeful about the conditions.

we headed out on the trail, 

walking and talking.

then it became short runs here and there.

then longer runs.

the kids just wanted to run!

i wanted to run (no matter how lousy i felt)- - i know, without a doubt, my husband wanted to run.

our plan had been to do just under half the trail and then turn around..

we ran and hiked the whole trail.

and had so much fun.
*the guide estimates about 13km for the whole trail.  we're pretty sure it's actually about 7.5-8km*

the kids took turns leading the way, setting the pace.

i asked my boy if he'd missed running on trails.

he said he had.

boy: "know what i love about running trails?

us: "what?"

boy: "running on trails.  know what i don't like about running on trails?"

us: no time to respond

boy: "nothing.  i like the trees, the hills, i like it all.  what would you rather... race on a trail or road?"

all four of us were unanimous with our answer of racing on a trail.

my girl told me that she wanted to do a trail race around a lake, then she could see the water the whole time.

as we were running i began thinking about my childhood.

i was thinking about my brother and i running ahead of our parents.

running and playing, imagining.  

it also got me thinking about my trip to Arkansas one year with 3 good friends.

my one friend and i ran a trail - we were Last of the Mohicans.. we were pretending we were riding horses like Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  but we were running it to Ponca!

when we are children we ran trails.  

we would run and jump and hide and laugh and imagine.

we go for hikes often...
but i love that i have the ability to run when the kids want to run..

i loved running that trail with my kids.

we weren't going too fast to enjoy it.

we walked when we wanted, but we ran and laughed, and slipped, and got wet feet.

we ran all downhills 

(i walked a couple, i'll be honest - - i didn't want to fall)

we had a blast.

no complaining, no arguing.

we stopped to enjoy the beauty.
we stopped on a bench barely uncovered from the snow for a photo op.

we stopped for some fruit snacks.

we chewed on wintergreen.

i love hiking with the kids.

and i love trail running with the kids.

sunshine, warmth, campfire, slacklining, archery,  GTing, trail running and cereal for dinner.

it was a perfect way to end our long weekend before dan went back to work on monday.

*all photos taken by me

with Gertie.

except for the one of my barefoot on the slackline.

that was taken with Chester.