Warning: It may seem like this was a miserable experience, but really, it was pretty hilarious. It pretty much went as well as I expected. High hopes and very low expectations are the key to enjoying outings with kids.
Our friends invited us to hike Ensign Peak with them. After a little internet reconnaissance I'm a little doubtful - its short but steep, the trail isn't stroller friendly, I don't like my baby sling for hiking, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Remember low expectations. Very important.
We actually arrived about 20 minutes early. A good start means a good hike right? Hahahahaha We stop at the park to play while we wait for our friends. Less than 5 minutes there and "Mom I have the go to the bathroom!" Ummm......The park didn't have a bathroom, the trail head didn't have a bathroom, not so much as a port-a-potty in sight. Parents everywhere know a bathroom is vital when you have kids. The situation was further complicated because the trail head is located in suburbia - houses all around, people coming and going, hiking on their lunch breaks, state capital building a few blocks away -- finding private bushes was not so easy. On the up side, Olivia got to experience peeing behind a bush for the first time and actually did it and thought it was "cool." This is pretty amazing for a kid who rejects public restrooms for minor reasons, such as toilet height and type of toilet paper, and of course the creepy automatic flushing.
First disaster averted, our friends arrive and we all head to the trail -- ooops, just kidding, someone is throwing up. Really. All over the sidewalk. Ummm........
He says he is feeling better, we decide to press on. He makes it a very short distance and feels crappy again. He stops and we continue on to the first look out point. I have Sophie in my baby sling and we are already hot and tired of it, my older two kids are racing ahead, and Olivia and Jolie are already asking me to carry them - Jolie "Mom pick up me." "I can hold your hand sweetie." So far she's okay with that.
We find Austin meditating (I have no explanation) and everyone else soaking in the view. We snap some pictures - my kids practice moving at the last minute so the pictures don't turn out like I wanted. Ho hum. Low expectations, remember?
My older kids are wondering where their throwing up friend is and they dash off to find him. I'm mentally yelling at them to not get too close. Last thing I want to take home is whatever virus is afflicting him. Olivia, Jolie, Sohpie and I take a diferent, smaller trail to meet up with the main trail. Lovely pleasant walk with lots of stops to examine ants, bees, flies, rocks, bushes, you get the idea, but seriously one of the more pleasant moments.
THANK GOODNESS there is a small stand of oak trees where the trails meet up with some cement blocks to sit on. Its hot. And sick boy needs a rest anyways. All the other kids declare they are starving! Even though I know mine just had Wendy's in the car on the way, we break out the snacks. Everyone munches and climbs trees. 
My friend and I exchange sheepish glances knowing that if we are going to finish this thing we better get going. I stand up to rally the troops. Only a part of troops are rallied. Sick boy is going to wait here with his mom. The rest of us carry on. When sick boy's sister realizes her mom and brother aren't coming she heads back. When my kids realize their friends aren't coming they want to go back too. No, gosh darn it we are hiking this mountain. 
Well, that feeling didn't last long. When "Mom pick up me" - "I can hold your hand sweetie" resulted in a tantrum, and Sophie was fussing because she was so hot and had a poopy diaper but I didn't have any diapers with me (why? I don't know), and Olivia sat down and wouldn't budge I knew we were done. So we headed back down the trail to the small stand of trees for another break. More snacks, more water. Sick boy threw up again. Jolie tripped on a cement block and skinned up her legs. Sophie wanted to nurse. 
I nurse Sophie. My friend covers throw-up with dirt and puts bandaids on Jolie. She decides to take all the kids with her to the first look out. Jolie stays with me. Second most pleasant moment is nursing Sophie and sitting with Jolie in the shade. **Magic**
First disaster averted, our friends arrive and we all head to the trail -- ooops, just kidding, someone is throwing up. Really. All over the sidewalk. Ummm........He says he is feeling better, we decide to press on. He makes it a very short distance and feels crappy again. He stops and we continue on to the first look out point. I have Sophie in my baby sling and we are already hot and tired of it, my older two kids are racing ahead, and Olivia and Jolie are already asking me to carry them - Jolie "Mom pick up me." "I can hold your hand sweetie." So far she's okay with that.
We find Austin meditating (I have no explanation) and everyone else soaking in the view. We snap some pictures - my kids practice moving at the last minute so the pictures don't turn out like I wanted. Ho hum. Low expectations, remember?
My older kids are wondering where their throwing up friend is and they dash off to find him. I'm mentally yelling at them to not get too close. Last thing I want to take home is whatever virus is afflicting him. Olivia, Jolie, Sohpie and I take a diferent, smaller trail to meet up with the main trail. Lovely pleasant walk with lots of stops to examine ants, bees, flies, rocks, bushes, you get the idea, but seriously one of the more pleasant moments.
THANK GOODNESS there is a small stand of oak trees where the trails meet up with some cement blocks to sit on. Its hot. And sick boy needs a rest anyways. All the other kids declare they are starving! Even though I know mine just had Wendy's in the car on the way, we break out the snacks. Everyone munches and climbs trees. My friend and I exchange sheepish glances knowing that if we are going to finish this thing we better get going. I stand up to rally the troops. Only a part of troops are rallied. Sick boy is going to wait here with his mom. The rest of us carry on. When sick boy's sister realizes her mom and brother aren't coming she heads back. When my kids realize their friends aren't coming they want to go back too. No, gosh darn it we are hiking this mountain. 
Well, that feeling didn't last long. When "Mom pick up me" - "I can hold your hand sweetie" resulted in a tantrum, and Sophie was fussing because she was so hot and had a poopy diaper but I didn't have any diapers with me (why? I don't know), and Olivia sat down and wouldn't budge I knew we were done. So we headed back down the trail to the small stand of trees for another break. More snacks, more water. Sick boy threw up again. Jolie tripped on a cement block and skinned up her legs. Sophie wanted to nurse. I nurse Sophie. My friend covers throw-up with dirt and puts bandaids on Jolie. She decides to take all the kids with her to the first look out. Jolie stays with me. Second most pleasant moment is nursing Sophie and sitting with Jolie in the shade. **Magic** Sophie's done, Jolie's ready to go - off to meet up with everyone. At the trail head there is a small area with benches and a wall with historical plaques - the kids race around, climbing, playing, jumping, and perfectly happy. My friend and I sit and visit. Jolie finally gets her wish - I pick her up. Oh yeah, and "Mom I have to go to the bathroom." Where's a bush?
And so far . . . no one is sick in our house :)
1 comment:
Great story! Made me laugh.
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