Hi! Welcome! We are a family of four with a deep love of travel, the outdoors, staying active, and new adventures of any kind. We are passionate about sharing our experiences adventuring with our little ones. We hope that other families can get inspiration, tips, and tools they need to embark on adventures of their own. Questions? Email us!
Back Road Family
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Today you are one. Nothing marks the passing of time like a growing child. This year was fierce and fast, sweet and slow. Shiloh, you are (most likely) our last baby and that makes my heart sting. I love being a Mother. I love birthing and breastfeeding, I love soft snuggles, peach-smelling skin, tiny toes, round bellies, sweet cheeks, and dimples. I love watching babies observe their world and I love being reminded that they are wiser than we think. While this year was precious it was also challenging. Thankfully the painful sleep deprivation and relentless illness of the past 5 months were eased by the beautifully simple, magical moments that made it all worth it. The more babies I have the more I want and the more I realize how exquisite this time is. Each year and stage brings new blessings, but there is no blessing quite like time with a baby. Shiloh, If you end up being our last baby, I take comfort knowing that I slowed down and enjoyed you. I kissed you a gazillion times, took deep grateful breaths while you nursed, got to know the meanings of every cry, celebrated you, and relished in how lucky l am to be your mother. I can’t imagine life without you Shy Shy. I love you. We all do.Look no further for your homeschooling inspiration cause we’re nailing it.You guys, this is how my husband does the school commute. We weren’t joking when we said we moved to Oregon to get out of the damn car! #biketoschool #3kidsintow #dadbeastBreaking news!!!!! The sun came out today!!!! It has been a long time. Or maybe I haven’t noticed because I’ve been inside for 4 weeks with sick kids 🤷🏼♀️ Regardless, the sun came out and we got out. 🙌🏼 and Shiloh’s wearing wool overalls so there’s that too.On our family hike I got reeeeeeeaaaaally serious about making a few resolutions. In no particular order... I resolve to participate in a January detox that includes mostly bacon, cheese, and sourdough bread. I resolve to figure out how many grams of sugar we consumed in the month of December and next December we will double it! I resolve to brush my teeth twice a day. I resolve to keep Shiloh 9 months old forever. I resolve to create an exact replica of the garlic sauce at Kebaba. I resolve to befriend someone with a sheep farm. Free wool? I resolve to air fry edamame. I resolve to discover where the car smell is coming from. I resolve to take a picture of the kids drinking hot chocolate when they get their little behinds up this mountain. Whoohoo, one resolution completed! Here are some pics from our hot chocolate hike including my favorite view of the rocks and the river (the light is so good!) while trying to coordinate a family pic in the foreground 🙄 Happy 2020All 3 kids got on the mountain today for a full day of⛷ awesomeness. Can you find Shiloh? I do love growin’ the babies but since I’m not 🤰🏼, I’m skiing and I really love that too! Woot woot!
Category Archives: diving
Okinawa, Hedo Point
If it scares me or makes me feel uncomfortable, I need to do it. Fear or discomfort means an opportunity for personal growth and I have an addiction to personal growth. At the end of my life, I want to feel like I made the most of the opportunities I was given. Stretched my mind and my body. Got my bang for my life buck.
When it came to my fear of fish (it’s true, I did have a fear of fish) and my fear of the underwater world, I knew that meant I needed to get my dive certification. And lucky for me- after a few short certification dives, I discovered I LOVED the world beneath the surface! Had I let fear determine my choices I would have missed out on some of the most memorable and unique experiences in our natural world.
Unfortunately, I rarely dive anymore. When I do dive, there is that moment right before I jump in where I think, “Crap. Which button does what again? Did I turn on my air? How do I inflate this thing? Which means I’m OK? The thumbs up or the OK sign?”
I take a deep breath, calm my anxieties and jump in. Just like riding a bike, it all comes back. I bob at the surface for a minute. The cool water envelops my face and hair. I become weightless. I put the regulator in my mouth, remember how much I love the cool air and meditative sound of the most basic of human functions. I deflate my BCD and and leave the world behind.
Posted in Asia, diving, Japan
Tagged diving, Hedo Point, Okinawa, Snorkeling with toddlers
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Gear Review! Snorkel with a toddler
I reeeaaally wanted my 3 year old daughter to have the opportunity to explore the world below sea-level. I knew she would love seeing the busy fishy world, but more importantly, I didn’t want her to end up like me. My family will not take this post seriously if I don’t mention that up until about the age of 30, I had a fear of fish and snorkeling.
Thailand: Chili-squid flavored Lays
Every good gas station has a horned bull, and every good 711 has chili-squid flavored Lays potato chips.
Posted in Asia, diving, Rock climbing, Thailand, Tropics
Tagged boats, diving, Ko tao, monsoon, Phi Phi, stomach poisoning, Thailand
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Thailand: Kittens, spice, and diving
We have been in this tiny area of East Railay for over a week now and are getting very comfortable. The biggest surprise is … kittens! There are kittens everywhere. All different colors, some with tails, some without.
Posted in Asia, diving, Rock climbing, Thailand, Tropics
Tagged diving, Railay, Rock climbing, Thailand
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