Think Before You Shop

Every day this week, the kids have gone hiking with Jay or me. We have miles and miles of trails mere steps from our front door. Additionally, Jay has begun training for an insane race in September where he'll run seventeen miles over an old logging road between Ouray and Telluride, Colorado. The distance alone would kill me but, for this race, the runners start at 7800 ft., climb to 13,120 ft. before crossing the finish line at 8,820 ft. So, when my man tells me he needs some good trail running shoes, I say, "Let's go shopping!"

Wanting to support our local economy, which includes several outdoor enthusiast stores set up along main street that specialize in selling this kind of gear, we headed downtown to buy some hiking shoes/boots for Seth and me and trainers for Jay. First of all, shopping with three children is never a good idea. Try to avoid whenever possible. Secondly, shopping for shoes (which, by nature, involves some sedentary behavior) is purely masochistic without a stroller to contain a wild two year-old. This was a rookie mistake on our part and we assume responsibility for all post-traumatic stress related issues for all involved. Not pretty. Lastly, never....ever shop in a tourist town on a holiday weekend. Just don't do it. It was insane.

If the above description didn't convert you to the cause of home internet shopping, add another sudden afternoon thunderstorm in the mix and you'll be kissing the UPS man after his next delivery too.

We escaped the rainstorm by heading into an ice cream store. An ice cream store with no indoor seating, that is. Thank goodness it had a small porch. FYI, neither Henry or I left the ice cream store as clean as we arrived.

I must mention, that in spite of the afternoon, which shan't be repeated anytime soon, we just spent a lovely evening at an evening BBQ with some neighbors. I looks like I'm going to have to end every blog entry with, "I love it here!"