The Great Snowshoeing Debacle!

Ahhh, yes ... so yesterday our family went snowshoeing ... or attempted too. My dear husband wanted us all to enjoy a day of easy hiking in the snow, in the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. I went along with it because I knew how much Caloy wanted us to do this together. Matthew was so excited to snowshoe with his Daddy! I didn't want to be a party-pooper ... but I had doubts about this adventure from the get-go ...

We loaded the car with snow gear ... blankets ... peanut butter sammies ... and enough water to store in a camel ... and off we went.

"Did you check the weather? You do know where we are going right? Somewhere close right?"
"Yeah, yeah and yeah." He assured me."Just down Nelson, to 36 and a little ... "

We weren't 2 miles down the road when Caloy realized he left the backpack for Gracie at home. Ahhh, clue #1 that this adventure wasn't going to be fabulously sucessful.

We were back on our way ... 30 minutes ... an hour ... we had surpassed the directions that Caloy told me that morning ...

"Where are we going???"
"It's just up here!"
"Remember I said I didn't want to go too far?"
"Just a few more minutes ..."

As we continued to climb and the roads got snowier (is that a word?) I was getting more and more ticked ...

"Really? This is "close"? I asked you if you knew where we were going ... You think this is ok for our mini van without chains? Really?"
"Want me to turn around and go back home?"
"Are you serious ... we drove over an hour to no-where-land and you are asking if I want to go back? I didn't want to come to begin with ... WHERE ARE WE GOING?"
"Its just up here ... "
"Say that again, and see what happens ... "

Add in too that Grace is freaking out and Matthew is chiming in too.

"WAS THAT A SIGN FOR BRAINARD LAKE?"
"Yes, thats where we are going."
"You didn't say that before, you said it was close, I wouldn't have wanted us to come here, it is too far and too cold and you really think that it is ok to take Gracie out in this weather ... I can't believe you didn't tell me where we were going! We've been here before remember?"
"No"
"YES I HAVE PICTURES ... "
"I don't remember"

It went on and on from there ... and probably nothing that should be published ... you can all imagine though.

So we arrive ... and are turning to park and the sky darkens ... and the wind starts to howl ... and the snow that is on every tree branch starts to fly through the air and when it hits your face it feels like a needle ... we park.

"I'm not taking Gracie out in this ... if I am freezing then I can assume our 18 month old is freezing too"
"Let's just go home then"
"Really? You better strap those shoes on and take your son out ... (Matthew is already out of his seat and putting on his snow gear) See how excited he is? Grace and I will wait in the car."

So, Caloy and Matthew walked around for maybe 5 minutes ... Matthew said it was too cold and his face hurt ... everything was covered except his eyes and nose ... but they were frozen even after 5 minutes ...

They came back to the car ... changed clothes and that was it. 40$ in show shoe rentals ... for 5 minutes of "hiking". While Caloy was out with Matthew my anger became laughter ... almost hysteria ...

What a day.

We drove home and that was that ... 3 hours in the car for 5 minutes of frozen fun, while Grace and I watched from the van. Yes, the great snowshoeing debacle it was.