Free Unstructured Play Outside

I have been trying to make it a point lately to get my kids outdoors for plenty of unstructured free play time. There is a wooded area near our house that we make a short hike to and then just set up camp. It is perfect because there are two pretty steep hills on either side for the kids to run down and two trails off into the woods as well. There is a perfect fallen tree for me to sit on and read.

No organized crafts, no organized sports, no pressure, no screens, no mommy playing with them. Just free unhurried time to be kids outside in a natural and interesting environment. They love it. I love it. Everyone gets along. It just doesn't get any better than that!

But first we had to visit our absolute favorite dogs (and pups) at the dairy farm.

 I had to tell Mirek that, despite their size, they are not horses.

 Into the woods.

 And back home for my coffee stout.

The Itch

Near Anchorage

Big Bend, Texas

Denali

Landing on glacier near Juneau

Montana

Montana

My Journal

Sand Point, Alaska

View from float plane, SW Alaska

My home away from home

Grand Teton

I'm feeling the itch. Big time. The itch to travel, to see beautiful places. It makes my heart hurt, seriously, to think about it. This need to go somewhere, and yet not having the means and being trapped in the biggest state ever! I know I should try to love being where I am. To love my home, to love cooking, knitting, sewing. And I do. But I can't help who I am. I've always been this way. I begged and begged my parents to let me go to college in Alaska. I begged so much they finally gave in. Before having children I traveled quite a bit. Not across any oceans, I never had that kind of money. I've been to some border towns in Mexico and a few places in Canada when I was playing hockey. Mostly, I just went on road trips. I went across Texas, all across the south, and up through the Rocky mountains. I usually went backpacking alone because there wasn't anyone that ever wanted to tag along. I was always on a serious budget, usually with money for gas and that's about it. I haven't been out of Texas since I had kids. Traveling with them is harder, obviously. I want to drive to the mountains, but I'm not sure our car is reliable. We cannot afford to fly anywhere or rent a car. My husband also needs to visit his family in Nigeria in the near future which we need to think about. I'm sure he will have to go alone. At some point in my life I want to backpack Europe. I don't care if I have to sleep in dumpsters. My kids won't mind either, I'm positive :-) I am going to be 29 soon and although it feels as if I'm getting old, I know I am not yet too old. I should still be healthy and strong enough for the next 10 years or so to really explore. To have no regrets. How to do this with little to no money is the question. And no! Getting a job will not help. I would then just be making money to pay for daycare and I would never be able to get enough time off to do much. Pure waste of time jobs are! What to do, what to do. I am aching inside with this need. This need to see.....

Weekending - 4th of July

We had a great time with family and friends at our family beach house for this 4th of July weekend! Our beach house is a very special place that I have been going to since I was born. My grandpa, my dad, and friends built the house in the late 70's and early 80's. It is located in San Luis Pass which is maybe 15 miles from Galveston. My dad has crammed the house with all of his garage sale finds from over the years. I also remember having to stop on the side of the road to pick up things, such as hats, for his hat collection. In recent years, he's become somewhat addicted to websites such as Ebay and Craigslist. I could post pictures of the "stuff" in the house for days, but I won't. Here are a couple.

So, back to the weekend of family, friends, music, drink, food, and merriment!

There were a lot of kids running around and a tent had to be set up just to accommodate them. There is never a problem keeping them happy and entertained.

The adults are always entertained as well.

 Hope y'all had a great 4th of July weekend too! Head on over to The Habit of Being to read or link to your own "weekending" post.