Labor Day Weekend {Sunday afternoon in the trees }

 It's been a long, strange season.  Back in March all this bonus family time was pretty awesome.  We worked on projects, took walks and played lots of games together as a whole unit.  We all pretty much appreciated a break from the pace of life with an eight member family. 

But as the days have continued to stretch into weeks and the weeks into months, we've sort of lost our excitement over life interrupted.  I guess you could say the novelty of chilling out at home or finding new outdoor venues has worn off a bit...  

Or a lot. 

So many of the things we've done in summers past have been simply not available because of Covid closures.  No trampoline parks, $1 morning movies, museums or library trips. And it's just been flat out too hot to do much of anything outside that doesn't involve being submerged in water.  

Thankfully over this Labor Day weekend we finally got a respite from the heat.  And the ropes course that several of the kids have said would be fun both had a good Covid plan AND was running a special deal if you came for the final two hours of a day.

We pretty quickly got through the 30 minute harness fitting and safety course and got to begin our treetop adventure right at 4.  The middle/high school bunch headed off to the medium level paths immediately while Ian and I stayed back on the easy levels with the elementary pair.

Even on the easy courses, there were several segments that stretched our littles to their limits because of their height and leg length.  

Both of us were so proud of them though.  Nat and Nicholas showed their true grit and fought past their fears, even a few times when I thought the staff was going to have to come do a mid course rescue.  Of course the scary places that they really had to take steps bigger than they were comfortable led to zip-line opportunities.  After the first seconds Nicholas decided those were his favorite!

Meanwhile our older kids were at levels equal to a three story building.

Scaling ninja walls with ease...

...and skateboarding across wires like it was child's play.

 

Swinging platforms just far enough apart that you have to throw yourself off your center of balance to reach out for the next platform ropes?

No problem.

And when I said Ian and I stayed back on the easy levels with the little ones, I of course meant we were ON the course with them.  We had to prove we wouldn't be outdone by our kids.  

I even overcome a few of my own "scary moments"...invisible rope steps anyone? 

We all got in at least three treetop trails (the oldest kids got in four and five) in the two hours and while going on a non-discounted ticket would have given a little more time, the savings of nearly $70 for the family was well worth it.  Besides, some of the kids commented they used muscles they weren't sure they had.  I think we'll all be feeling it tomorrow!  

**the mix of masks and non-masks was due to the nature of the course...only one person is allowed on an element at a time anyway, so you usually had natural social distancing in place.  Only three people are allowed on a platform between elements, and due to social distancing, you were only supposed to share a platform with people in your party.  Basically masks were required on the ground and then whenever you were the first in your group to be on an element approaching people not in your party on a platform.**