When I asked Leah join me in this initiative her response was “You think I’m adventurous?”… And for those of you who don’t know Leah there is no better response I could have asked for coming from such a humble and carefree momma. For Leah this is just a normal day with kids; you eat, you play, you get out and do what you love. And if there is one thing I have learned from this incredible momma over the years, it is that you can do anything you put your mind to (despite what anyone else might think).

On this particular day in May we met up in Lacombe, AB to bike a portion of the Trans Canada Trail (this portion of the Trans Canada Trail was completed in 2012 and is 12 km one way… making our trip a total of 24 km).

Leah’s kids did not disappoint with all of their excitement and chaos as we prepared to get on the trail (did I mention, she had 4 kids, with the eldest being 6 and and the youngest 6 months?!) As Leah worked on attaching the trailer and dressing all of them for the potential rain storm working its way towards us, her boys were off biking, running, and climbing anything they could.

Biking with four kids and one parent is no easy feat, and Leah has it down to a T; Two kids in the bike trailer, one in the bike seat and one on a peddle bike. Then to top it off just incase any of them decide they want to bike she had a balance bike hooked over the back of the trailer.

Past the farmers fields and through the rolling hills of rural Alberta we biked, and the one thing that stood out the most to me was how much fun the kids had (even Ezra who biked the whole way!) With one goal in mind these kids powered through all the way to the playground in Blackfalds, AB.

The thing I have noticed with Leah and her kids is that even though its not always easy to get out and explore, she still does it. Leah has always been a fun loving adventurous person and she has not let having kids get in the way of that. Yes the adventures have changed some, yes it takes more time to get ready and do them, yes they don’t always go as planned, but she still gets out and shows her kids what she loves. The outcome of it: her kids love being outdoors! … Seriously, I have never seen kids that are so happy to be outside All. The. Time…As an outdoor adventurous parent myself I can only hope my son loves the outdoors half as much as these kids!

Listed below are the questions I sent to Leah to give us a little bit of insight on how this mama manages getting out to do what she loves with four kids

Tell me a little about yourself. What you do? What some of your favourite things are (eg:coffee, reading, baking, ect) I'm a stay at home mom of 4 kids. I love to start my day with coffee and cuddles! I have a hard time with schedules so I try to make each week look a little different from the next. I find this puts me in a better mood. I also love to cook for others!

What are your favourite adventure activities?

I love to hike, bike, and camp.

Why do you value getting outside and going on adventures?

It brings me great joy and I feel like the natural world has so much more to offer then the concrete walls of our house.

Why is it important to you to pass on this love of being in the great outdoors with your child(ren)?

I want my kids to appreciate nature and all it has to offer.

When you look back on all of the trips you've done which one is your favourite? Why is it your favourite? What part stands out the most? (This does not have to be a trip involving kids, but if it does by all means it can be included!)

My favourite trip was biking across Canada with my friend Amy! We spent 2 months on our peddle bikes and it was so fun. The part that stands out to me is that we lived on so little. We each had 2 outfits, 1 tent, a sleeping bag, a thermo rest, some bike tools, and a stove.

How often do you get outside with your family/kids?

Every day in the summer, but the winter is harder with small kids. If it's too cold we sit on our couches near the wood stove.

What is your favourite place to take your kids to explore?

We live close to a lake so I like to walk down to the shore and the kids can spend hours playing in the sand and throwing rocks at the water.

Taking kids out exploring has its own challenges, some that you may have never thought of until you had a child. What are some of these unexpected challenges you have come across? And how have you worked through them?

I feel like I'm packing up my whole house when we spend the day away without a home base. We need the stroller, extra pair of clothes, diapers, swim suits, bikes, towels, lunch food, snacks, diapers, wipes...etc Sometimes it feels like you need to be so prepared and organized.

What is your best piece of advice for a parent looking to start getting out on trips with their children?

It is often more work and inconvenient to take kids on adventures, but it is always worth it. It gets easier and it gives children memories for a life time!

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Never compare yourself to other moms! Do what brings you and your family joy!