Whoa Bandit!

We had our first outdoor adventure this last weekend in Colville, WA.  Thank you Haley Crill and Sarah Johnson who supplied the horses!  Isla took the lead from her new friend Rayna, who is already a professional little cowgirl and mounted Banditt yelling," Yee Haw! Ride em cowboy!"  Her mama may be a city girl, but she tried to teach her the right lingo.  The girls were thrilled as Sarah led Banditt on a walk around Haley's property.  Banditt swayed his hips....pacety pace, pacety pace.  Isla learned how to "kiss to him" to tell him to go and to say, "Whoa Banditt!" to tell him to stop.  Afterwards, we fed the other horses lots and lots of grass.  They were so great with Isla who was more than a little excited.  We spent time digging in the dirt where Haley is going to plant her garden this year and climbing on the hay bales in the barn.    Isla had a blast.  When we came home she was exhausted and we got into a nice warm bath. 
I fell in love with the outdoors when I was going to college in Utah.  There was hardly a weekend that I didn't spend up in the Canyons hiking, backpack, rock climbing or skiing.  Being outside was the best way I knew to release stress, find some clarity of mind and feel more at peace.  I came back home from my adventures exhausted and dirty from head to toe, but more confident, relaxed and ready to take on the week.  A desire to bring that back into my life is what started me on this path.  My goal is to get my daughter away from the TV and electronics and out in the fresh air.  It is one of the best ways I know to teach her confidence and to allow her to be her best self. 

For Starters

This is only the beginning. The heart and soul of life is following the less trodden path. Nature at it's purest. Mothers at their best.