This past weekend, we went hiking nearby on Sauvie Island, which sits near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. It was a cold and clear day, and we were accompanied by our friends Noah and Julia.
Cate started off in the child carrier, but after about one hour, she wanted out. Noah and Julia held her hand and helped her around (and through) the mud, for which Cate was grateful.
For the most part our kids were troopers on the hike, but as the hike wore on both Cate and Nicholas became... what is the word... impatient.
This is precisely where the secret weapon- fruit snacks- came in handy! Who knew?! We kept plying the kids with these and exhorting them to "just go a little bit further, and then you can have another fruit snack." It worked like a charm.
When times got really tough, I also pulled out the trump card- a stop at Cool Moon Ice Cream if everyone did a good job and did not complain. Needless to say, they did a great job!
Come to think of it, my car needs to be washed, and my grass will eventually need to be mowed. Fruit snacks, anyone?
