February was all-around just a beautiful month of growth, family and fun. It was one of the first months in a long time that felt like almost all ups! I feel spring coming right around the corner and that gives me so much energy and inspiration! I can’t wait to spend all the time outside! Life is so precious and so beautiful and I’m loving living it these days.
Travel Planning This Month
We initially planned a camping weekend with our kids for Valentine’s Day, but temps plummeted for that weekend, so we moved that weekend to a later date. We booked my birthday weekend to Petit Jean State Park, which I’m very much looking forward to! I’ve been trying to scheme up all the little adventures I want to have that weekend. Then we booked four other camping weekends in the Ozarks for the spring! Including one new area to stay in, which means a new campground for us, and some new trails for all of us!
I also got all of our timed entry permits for Arches National Park (read about the Arches timed entry in this post) in June. This is a reminder for everyone looking to visit Arches National Park in June – those permits are officially available! I’m getting so stoked for Nomad Summer!
Travel This Month
I took a day trip down to Arkansas for my next tattoo session. I am so ready to have both of my sleeves finished, but I also will really miss hanging out with Andrea – she’s so cool and such a talented artist. Luckily, I have at least 4 sessions left on my sleeves. This session she did detail work on the flowers of my lower arm, added the quote Love her, but leaver her wild, an additional bee and started on a honeycomb background to tie the lower arm together.
On the last day of the month, we also made our way down to Ponca to our favorite campground in the area Buffalo Outdoor Center RV Park. We played soccer with Charleigh and Liam, did their little sunset hike across the street and made brekkie for dinner before just hanging out in the camper. Camping feels so natural for our family and it feels so good to be back into it for the year – we’ve got a lot of cool adventures planned for year three as a camper family – check out some of our plans in this post.
Travel Laughs and Mishaps This Month
We did so little travel-wise this month that there wasn’t even any chance of laughs or mishaps. Worry not, there will be plenty over the course of the year.
Blog Posts from February
January 2024: A Monthly Roundup – This is a post, just like this one from last month. In January we had some big spontaneous adventure, and I read a fair amount so it was a fun roundup to write.
Things That Might Happen if When Your Dad Plans a Spontaneous Trip for You to Rural, Northern Manitoba… In January – My dad and I had some laughs, some mishaps and even more beautiful moments! We had such a great time on this trip. It’ll forever be a favorite trip of mine.
Camper Diaries – Year Two As a Camper Family – This is a fun little roundup of our camping stats, places we’ve been, things we’ve learned, and a few products that we completely fell in love with for our camper over this last year.
Women’s Essentials for Hiking in Winter – This may feel a little late for the season because it’s already February. But, to be honest, this hiker just finally put together a legitimate winter kit. Plus, the benefit of you guys seeing this now is that a lot of these things will be on sale since winter is coming to an end!
Hiking with Toddlers – All the Things We’ve Learned – Charleigh is probably 1,000 miles in to our family hiking adventures and Liam is probably 750 miles in. We have learned a lot about hiking with little ones – this post is our guide to all the things you need to know about hiking with toddlers!
Local Adventures in February
LOCAL INSIDE ADVENTURES: We went to Wonders of Wildlife for Charleigh’s birthday! It was her “wish” to see the penguins. So, we did that – if you live in southwest Missouri, I cannot recommend an annual pass to Wonders of Wildlife enough. Matt and I also went without kids, but we didn’t go right at open and it was a zoo in there!
We went to Urban Air Indoor Trampoline Park for the first time and it was so much fun! My brother and sister-in-law invited us for a whole family Valentine’s date. So the cousins played and had a blast together – and all the adults did too! It was so much fun and it won’t be our last visit!
LOCAL OUTSIDE ADVENTURES: Matt and I took a day date to go hiking, which was so fun! We did 5 miles on a random 65-degree day! We saw the cutest armadillo and, weirdly, two dead armadillos right along the trail – that was a first at Busiek.
My friend Tana and I took our kids to our local Nature Center. We did a 1.5 mile hike, but that was not a quick hike with 3 kids under four, and that’s exactly how we like it! We had snacks, we threw sticks into the water, we touched trees and basked in the very surprising 72-degree day! It was absolutely lovely! Then, we did this again at the end of the month! I’m really loving my time them that we spend outside. It’s so special.
Best Thing I Ate in February
Is is terrible if the best thing I had to eat this month is from the same place that I ate last month? Caracas House is a local Venezuelan food truck. And this month, Shea and I went and sat outside in the sunshine and we each had the sampler and holy cow it was incredible! This is the second month in a row that this food truck topped my list.
What I Read in February
I’m currently reading Why We Need to Be Wild: One Woman’s Quest for Ancient Human Answers to 21st Century Questions by Jessica Carew Kraft. It’s been a really interesting read and does feel like a really beautiful connector between a lot of the things I have been reading previously. So far, there’s been a large focus on reciprocity and rewilding, but in this really practical way. I’m really enjoying it so far, and I’m looking forward to finishing this in March! I’m also reading Devotions: The Selected Poems by Mary Oliver as well. I read a lot of poetry last year and really enjoyed it, but kinda got out of the habit because I dove hard into non-fiction, but it has felt nice to continue reading poetry again.
I finished Onyx Storm and now I’m eagerly awaiting the next in the series! I also listened to Quicksilver – yet another romantasy series that I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. How did I get so into this genre?! Haha. I re-listened to Where the Crawdads Sing which was really interesting to listen to again already knowing the full story. Lastly, I’m back on the Stephanie Plum series as an audiobook for background noise while I’m cleaning or doing laundry.
Quote of the Month
“The secret to happiness is letting every situation be what it is instead of what you think it should be, and then making the best of it.” – Yung Pueblo
Most Popular Instagram Post and Reel This Month
Our top posts are super different. First our most popular photo post is from CJ’s 4th birthday! So we included some of our favorite adventurous moments with her over the last year or so. Our most popular reel is from Yosemite – one of the dreamiest places we’ve ever been!
Most Popular Blog Post in February
Things to Know Before Visiting Moab, Utah – This actually makes me really happy and really proud. I have a ton of Moab content because of how much we love to explore this area and how often we go back. So, I’m really proud that this post was seen by so many people this month! Also, this gets updated after every single trip we take to Moab – typically at least a week every year!
Home & Life Updates in February
Our sweet Charleigh Jo turned 4 in February! It was such a beautiful weekend of celebrating. We threw her a space-themed party per her request, and then we had a little “yes” day for her the next day where she chose our plans from two reasonable choices for the day and honestly, it was so much fun!
Liam started going to preschool this month, and while I wasn’t ready, I was ready if that makes sense. I’m so excited for him to learn to socialize and to just explore the things that he’s curious about. It’s been so… quiet at home during the day. But truthfully, I’ve been filling my days: going to yoga classes, writing in coffeeshops and working more. It’s been really nice to feel a little more independent again – but I love that I still have more time with my kids than without it. And I love their school! This month, we had a Worlds Fair there. I love that we’re introducing new cultures and diversity to our kids at this age already!
We have had so much snow! It’s insane! I love it and think it’s fun, to a degree, but it’s really killing my ability to get outside and hit hiking trails because I am trying to get more trail time while the kids are in school. So, more sunny days, please! But we had some fun indoor play too!
My beautiful mama turned SIXTY this month! She’s so incredible and we had the best surprise party for her with 30+ friends and family members and we pulled it off!
What’s Coming in March?
In March, I turn 35! I have been honestly having a weird thing with 35. It’s because my grandpa died in his early 70s and I’ve been having this thought of what if I’m halfway through my life? But I’m trying to turn that into inspiring me to do more, not a crippling anxiety. Sometimes my brain can be silly and try to push me that way. So far, though it’s working. I also, am wanting to do a 30 days of yoga challenge for the month of March with at least 30 minutes of yoga every day that month (but one, because I missed the 1st hiking too much – whoops!).
We have my birthday trip to Arkansas planned in Petit Jean State Park and I cannot wait for that! We also have two other camping weekends planned in Arkansas this month and I’m so excited because spring is my favorite time to explore the Ozarks! Matt also got me tickets to the tulip festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas – which I’m very excited for! It’s giving Keukenhof vibes from the Netherlands. So I can’t wait for that! I also have the pleasure of taking one of my dearest friends on her very first hike!
I hope that you guys have had the very best month and that the month ahead is beautiful and full of rebirth and growth just like the coming season!
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