Category: Motherhood Moments

Last year, in honor of my 30th birthday, I made a list of 30 adventures I would try with my tots throughout the year. Well my 31st is tomorrow and it’s time you readers read about our progress.

1. 360 on my snowboard I accomplished this in the sloppiest way possible.
2. Front side board slide on a box This wasn’t pretty either.
3. Teach Big E downhill skiing He did great!
4. Try cross country skiing with the tots Thanks Sundance Nordic Center.
5. Snowshoe excursion up Provo Canyon
6. Snowmobiling trip to Island Park, Idaho Unfortunately this trip ended with sickness and broken ribs.
7. Hike to Stewart Falls with Big E walking the whole time He was great!
8. Visit a National Park I’m planning to do this in August.
9. Have a neighborhood bonfire where we burn our dry Christmas tree (Fire = Awesome) The fire marshal personally handed out fire warnings this year so we ended up burning our dry Christmas tree in sections.
10. Try canoeing with the tots CLAS Ropes Course is awesome.

11. Bike ride road trip Rustler’s Loop, Fruta, Colorado
12. Hike to a mountain top  I’ve done plenty of hikes, but I can’t remember one to a mountain top.
13. Explore something new The tidepools at Carpinteria were awesome.
14. Go to the beach I miss this already.
15. Go camping I’ll be doing this a lot.
16. Watch a caterpillar change Does this count?
17. Mountain bike down a mountain…without the tots Rustler’s Loop again.
18. Grow a garden This is quite a feat in my shady, mountain area frequented by deer.
19. Teach Big E to swim 
20. Hike to a waterfall Battlecreek Falls, Baby!

21. Go fishing I decided fish are yucky unless someone else catches them.
22. Visit Italy with Mountain Dad 
23. Explore Portland, Oregon
24. Go boating
25. Swim 200 meter freestyle without stopping I’m not sure why I wrote this goal, I’m not a big swimming fan.
26. Try outdoor cooking with a reflector oven Good experiment, but the food got mushy.
27. Kayak the Provo river with Mountain Dad and Big E, and little G.
28. Hike to a great swim spot in Zion National Park!
29. See a moose or bear in the wild

This past year I have hiked, biked, kayaked, swam and climbed with my kids, inspired in part by this blog. Writing about Big E and little g’s adventures has been a fun and rewarding part of my life, mostly because of you readers.

As you and your family celebrate this holiday season, I wish you the happiest possible holiday. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Mountain Mom and Tots!

When Big E was not quite two we were at the park when I saw a little boy give his mother a dandelion.

“Here mom, this flower is for you,” the boy said.
“Honey, you have to stop picking all the flowers!” the mom said. Not, “thank you, sweetheart,” or “Wow, you’re so thoughtful.”

I was appalled, shocked that a mother could miss the beauty of her son giving her a token of his affection. I judged her. Isn’t motherhood about savoring those special moments?

Three years later, I am that mother.

Big E and little g are quite possibly the most loveable children in existence. First thing in the morning they want nothing more than to snuggle with their mama. Follow that up with holding hands, hugs and kisses, or in Big E’s case running catapult jumps onto my lap, piggie back rides and clutching onto my ankle as I try to walk around the living room. Every minute, every hour, for the rest of the day.

After hours of thoughtful, loving tokens of affection from my children, the constant poking, prodding, touching and caressing feels more like I’m an animal in a petting zoo, on the brink of going rabid. Do you have to grab my arm throughout ALL of dinner? Why did you just put your finger in my ear? No, little g, that is not a nipple it’s a mole, thank you very much.

Now I understand that mom at the park. Perhaps her dandelion came after hours of her son picking every flower in her neighbor’s yard. Maybe her walk to the park was longer than an hour because her son wanted to stop at every single bloom.

I get it now. Maybe when my tots are older and my lonely arms starve for their affection I will miss these days of constant touch. But for now, all I want at the end of the day is to not be used as a pillow, trampoline or mode of transportation. Tots, I love you, but please just don’t touch me.