Lowering expectations

Before we had Kate, B and I had many conversations about how she was going to change our lives.  Naturally, one of the topics we spent the most time discussing was how we were going to continue doing all of the things we loved, only with a small person in tow.

Over the past 18 months of figuring it out, I have had a realization.  We can definitely still do everything that we loved before Kate, we just have to lower our expectations about the whole experience. Believe me, this didn't come easy.  Let's just say that we've had to abort several adventures this year after realizing we shot a little too high in the extreme department.

However, after this sort of hard fought epiphany, things have been great.  Instead of trying to go for a 4 mile backcountry ski trip, we go sledding for 45 minutes in the parking lot. Instead of trying to go on 8 mile hikes up ridiculous grades in rainy weather, we save our hiking for sunny days and paved trails. And instead of going on 40 mile bike rides on lovely country roads alongside apple orchards, we do what we did over the weekend.  Headed west to the Banks-Vernonia trail.  A paved, flat rails-to-trails wonder that was just right for our little adventure family.

Well, at least B and I had a good time.  This little someone had herself a nice, smooth 14 mile snooze.