Giumarra Family Blog: Happy Mother's Day to me!

Happy Mother's day to Me!

Being a daughter and a daughter-in-law, often Mother's day has become a celebration about all the mother's in our lives. However, this year I decided to be selfish and after I got all the other Mother's day cards out in the mail... I made our Mother's day about me and our family. I had told Nick that I didn't want any tangible gifts. The Mother's day gift that I wanted was a family hike, defined as a hike to a place that was close by, but yet had a good "destination spot." I didn't care if it was the summit of a mountain, but was hoping for some kind of perfect "look out" spot or other destination where we could feel like we had made it!

This past Sunday, I got my Mother's day wish and more...

The kids and Nick let me sleep in (and because I usually wake up at 4:45, 6:30 felt delightful)! I got a trip to the gym all by myself and then came home to packed lunches and a family ready to hike. We set out to hike Buck Mountain. This isn't a mountain that any of us had hiked, but we knew it was family friendly and on Lake George. I had thought that I had remembered hearing that there were several look out points along the way. Knowing the trip to the top was 3.1 miles, I wasn't sure we would make it to the top, but with the sun shining and kids excited, we figured we would make it to one of those look out spots and call it good!

On the drive out, we realized we forgot the backpack for Colin. Knowing that he is now 3, we didn't think he would be very into being carried, but were planning to bring it as "back up" for when he got tired. Oh well... we will see how it goes.

As we pulled into the trail head parking lot, I swear the sun just disappeared and out came a sky full of clouds and the feeling of rain seemed to loom over us. Oh well... we will see how it goes.

The first 45 minutes or so was awesome. The kids were so excited, loving the hike, feeling interested in nature, having great questions about science and evolution (Natalie asks the most intense questions) and just a fun feeling... we almost forgot that we were cold. When we reached the trail marker that said we had walked 1 mile... I was impressed with Colin's little legs. Not soon after, the complaining started. With no look out spot in sight... I just figured we would see how it goes.

The complaining grew and multiplied to a point when all three kids were telling us they were tired and hungry and I had to re-adjust my "perfect hike." I realized that my dream of reaching the best "look out" spot was not going to be any fun if I had 3 complaining kids with me. I realized that they didn't need that perfect spot to be happy to have their picnic. It was me who wanted that and if I could re-adjust my definition of the perfect picnic spot, all would be good. So... moments later, we found a big rock on the side of the trail and with no look out by trees, we enjoyed a delightful picnic lunch (minus the cold) and then started back down the mountain.

The trip down was full of laughs as Sadie, Natalie and me each needed to do a "nature pee" - which is hilarious if you are under the age of nine. Colin needed to be carried for the last 20 minutes or so and was probably almost asleep in our arms by the time we got the car... but all was good. It was the perfect Mother's day.

I love you, Nick, Natalie, Sadie and Colin!