Musings.

Where to begin? It feels like (and appears that) I only submit a new post every winter, sandwiched in between the holidays and the beginning of the hiking season here in New England.  I have a whole bunch of stories to post, but wander around and you'll see that there are a bunch of new pages with accompanying photo galleries.  Brooke and I have been quite active over the past twelve or so months, so I have my work cut out for me in updating this site.  2017 saw us celebrate ten years of marriage, so Brooke and I spent a week in Paris.  Last year we enjoyed quite a few various family vacations, going to Florida, Michigan, and Indiana.  This year we have a trip to Virginia and Washington, DC planned, along with another trip to the in-laws in Florida, and next year? Well, next year I turn 40.  Do Brooke and I finally do the Inca Trail and hike to Machu Picchu? Do we stay stateside and explore Glacier National Park? Do my dad and I snowmobile Yellowstone? No clue.  All I know is that I won't be content without checking off a major bucket list item.  

If we do some type of hiking trip, well, I think it's safe to assume there will be some serious gear shopping.  Brooke will need a bunch of things if we do Peru, and we'll both need some stuff if we end up doing Glacier.  What will we need? I don't know, stuff.  Sleeping pads? Sure.  New boots for Brooke? Probably.  What's the point in backpacking if we're not going to splurge on new gear we'll use once every handful of years? The way I (poorly) justify it is that the kids are getting to the ages that they'll be joining us on the trail more and more.  The boys are old enough to do some overnights with us, and all three of them already love doing day hikes.  

It's also golf season coming up, and I'll be joining Blackstone National for the second straight year.  Hunter did lessons there and joined their PGA Junior League team last year, and is pretty amped about golfing again this summer.  Max is old enough to the spring golf camp this year, and hopefully will enjoy it as much as his older brother.  

Oh, and it's a sad day when you have to go in and delete the "Kid Carriers" section of the Gear page, as I did, because the kids are all too old and too big to ride in backpacks now.  I mean crap, this site started before our oldest was even born, and now the youngest of our three kids is too big to fit in a Kelty kid carrier.  Cue ugly sobbing.