This post sort of has to do with keeping warm, sort of. [And I know I promised a weeks worth of “staying warm” posts.] But lets face it- this is more than a gear review…cause there is only so much you can review about a hat. Either it fits, or not.  Either it itched, or…

This week has been cold!  And in honor of the season we are posting a weeks worth of reviews, tips, and info on keeping the kids and babies warm! I grew up skiing. I would venture on saying it was a family religion. And because of it, winter was always my favorite season…until I had…

Remember the Seven Sling Giveaway comes to an end tomorrow at 12pm.  Pass it on to your pregnant friends! Have a great day! -the Ericksons

A few things about us: 1. we aren’t a stroller family 2. we are habitual “baby-wearers” when the kids are young but 3. I am a sceptic when it comes to baby slings. I learned this week, though, that the Seven Sling has a place in my baby gear repertoire! (FYI, my youngest child is…

And the winner is: Nancy Henry From our house to yours: Congrats!  (Comment entrant were assigned a number based on the order in which they commented.  Then using a random number generator we found our winner: Comment #2) Thanks to all who got involved! the Ericksons

In honor of black friday… Lets face it, while the outdoors are generally free- the gear needed to enjoy them is not.  In fact it can be quite pricey.  And as we’ve added kids into the mix, we have added a whole new level of cost to our adventures.  Kids can be hard to gear…

Christmas comes every year and grandparents start asking what to give the kids, and I start wondering what to do after I’ve given them all my ideas.  This year I made a list of useful things – not to expensive – that the kids would love but also satisfy some need in their outdoor gear….

I adapted this recipe from one I found on Tropicaltraditions.com. I have tried 3 or 4 other homemade granola bar recipes, but this is by far my favorite.  It is easy, quick to make, makes a large amount and has a slightly crunchy and chewy texture.  After baking, cooling, and cutting, I store mine in…

Labor Day weekend. 5 minutes prior we pulled into the parking lot at the ‘Bread Loaves’ area in City of Rocks National Reserve.  The kids were running everywhere, climbing the rocks, throwing the rocks, and generally gleeful to be out of the car. The moms and I made a collective sigh and huddled up to…

3,000 mile road trip from Colorado to Washington down the coast to California and back? I’m in, just disregard my giant belly housing my unborn son at 7mos. I’m generally up for an adventure, but this was charting new territory for me and despite the challenges, both foreseen and unforeseen we had a great trip….

We moved to Utah nearly a year ago- waltzed into Momentum, cause we didn’t know where else to climb, and said, “Where do you sign us up?” Climbing for us is an outlet, a must have family bonding item. So naturally when we moved it was near the top of the list- right after the…

Owned and operated by Kati Rouse, their mission is simple: to provide quality kids outdoor gear and clothing, so that families can enjoy the outdoors TOGETHER.   Here is her story: I have always loved the outdoors–hiking, rock climbing, skiing, biking. Ran track and cross country in high school and college. I worked as an…

We told our daughter that if she made it to the top of the wall, we’d get her climbing shoes. And so, we very quickly found ourselves trying on shoes. “Are they comfortable?” “Oh Mom, these ones are really great, they look so cute on me,” she responds. She is such a girl… To say…

We’ve gotten a lot of questions regarding kids climbing harnesses. There are two harnesses I would suggest- though I am certain there are many others that are great. Please leave your comments if you’ve found other great ones. These are the ones we have experience with: 1. Petzl Simba Full Body Harness  We love this…

Mixed bag… Product features: Zippered main compartment, zippered small front pocket, mesh pocket interior for 1 liter hydration reservoir, mesh side pockets, reflective piping and 1 liter hydration reservoir with bite valve. We got one of these for my daughter’s birthday and overall I have mixed feelings about it.  It is great for hiking, with…

When the weather starts to cool and Christmas draws near, my thoughts go something like this:  what cool toys or clothes should we get the kids?  What on earth should I tell the Grandparents?  They don’t really need any MORE toys! So as summer wore on and turned to fall, I tried my hardest to…

Here are some tips to help to get your younger, and possibly a bit sheepish, kids climbing and having fun doing it: 1. Fix a rope to their back for lowering. Have the kid drag up an extra rope tied to their back.  This is helpful for those kids who have a little trouble with…

Product Features: Removable diaper pad 2 Water bottle holders Insulated bottle holders Internal organization Internal waterproof pocket Floral fabric interior Nylon fabric Top zipper for easy access to internal compartment 7 x 13 x 18 inches I received this diaper bag with our third child and it is versatile, easy to organize, and fits a…

Fleece is everywhere.  From cheap fleece pajamas from Target to Performance Fleece from Old Navy to higher priced fleece from say North Face, REI, or Patagonia.  But are they equal?  Will cheap do just as good as the most expensive versions? Fleece is my fabric of choice for layering my kids at night camping.  Also…

A camping breakfast REVOLUTION! Earlier, Hilary Lowe posted an awesome recipe for Easy Breakfast Burritos. Here is another one thanks to Jen Dekorte!  The key points being pre-made and wrapped in foil. Any recipe would probably be great. No prep on those cold camping mornings when it is struggle just to get out of your…