A new little hiker to the family!

Kellen John was born on January 15th at 6:00 AM. He was 8 lbs. and 21 inches long. His big sister is very proud, and wants to show him everything! It snowed the night he was born about 5 inches and the temperature dropped to about 8 F. What an entrance.

His Papa knew something was up when the Sabres scored an amazing 10 goals in the game the night before, and sure enough, he was inspired to join the outside world!

Kellen is an Irish name that means "powerful". Well that is how we see him...a powerful and positive influence on all our lives.

January snow means family fun!

Well, it is snowy and cold now that winter is here, but that has not stopped us from enjoying the outdoors. Everyday that we stay inside is one more day that we go crazy. The hardest thing to do is to take that first step in loading our kids up with all the clothing and gear.

It is all worth it! We love to head out on our little adventures and explore our neighborhood and local parks. They all have a new look and feel with the white stuff on the ground.

When the snow is on the ground, road, and sidewalks we found the sled the best means of transportation! It just works better than jog strollers. It also seems to delight the kids so much more to ride in the sled. Going "fast" is one of the favorite things to do. What a way to travel! It also is a good workout for Dad or Mom and helps clear your head.

What to do with kids when its cold?

Well, winter is here and it is easier to stay in than venture out...Especially when you have kids. I have found life much easier if I 'gear' them up (you parents know what I mean) and take them on an adventure. The adventure can be backyard, park down the street, or something much bigger. The toughest thing to do is to take the first step out the door.

We have found that a warm child is a happy child.

Here are some considerations, often obvious but sometimes overlooked that we have learned:

1. When kids are riding (sled, backpack, jogger, etc.) they will be colder than you are.

2. Layer like you would in the same situation. If you avoid cotton and other outdoor no-no's, do not put it on your child. There are fleece and other synthetic wicking fabrics out there that work fine for them as well. Wet kids are not happy. We usually bring an extra fleece blanket and backup clothing.

3. When you act excited about the adventure, they are excited...even if it is a training run in the park. Mix it up and they can have some fun. Different places and different things are always fun.

4. "Little Snacks," as our daughter calls them, go a long way!

5. Sometimes things just will not work out and you have to call it a day. When you keep this in mind at the start, it eases the pain when things fall apart. It is always good to have a backup plan.

6. Be safe and use your head. Keep it simple and the whole family will enjoy it.

The more you go the more they want to go! Our little one loves our adventures. We get quality time in the outdoors doing what we love and sharing that experience as a family. Expect the unexpected. We have changed many a diaper in the woods. A few blowouts and you learn quickly to carry duplicates of everything.

Have a great time out with your kids!

Tennessee Valley Beach Hike 

When Cynthia and I talked about starting a family, our biggest fear was the loss of our active outdoor lifestyle. We took our adventures to the mountains, deserts, canyons and beyond. Our adventurous travel took us to some amazing places with many incredible experiences. As we embarked on our new life as a family, my fear was the loss of some of this adventure.

We decided early on that we would still embark on amazing adventures and that the kids would be along for the ride. After the first year of my daughter's life, we found it hard to access good gear, and information on living an active lifestyle as a family. The only information and gear we could find was not really our speed. We have done our fair share of car camping and backyard adventures, but our quality expectation of the gear and the experience were set a little higher.

So enters this blog...This is our journal of our journey through parenthood and family life sharing the outdoors with our young and growing family. Mind you, we have had to realign our expectations on what we expect to accomplish in the outdoors. That has been a natural transition. The thing that makes it so worth the adjustment is the look on our daughter's face when she first strapped on snowshoes, or hiked up a mountain, or hiked without Papa carrying her on the trail. From the first snow to the first plane ride, everything is grander through the eyes of a child.

So, we hope that this blog helps give you ideas, tips, and great gear reviews to help your family get out and enjoy this world. We are not meant to live life hiding inside.

Life is adventure. Explore the world as a family.

About Us

About Outdoor Gear for Kids - Upside Over (Upsideover.com)
Upsideover.com an outdoor kids store provides the best available collection of outdoor gear for kids and kids technical clothing, Our staff is always updating our collections to provide the best kids gear, and in many cases hard to find gear, for your outdoor kids activities and active family needs.

Our store includes a broad selection of gear ranging from kids climbing gear, kids cycling gear, kids snowsports, kids rain gear, kids camping gear, kids hiking gear, kids helmets, kids cycling jerseys, kids sunglasses, kids snowshoes, family snowshoe packages, kids trekking poles, child carriers, jog strollers, snow sports, climbing, camping, paddle sports, cycling, technical clothing, footwear, helmets and safety/first aid and more kids gear. Our professional outdoor consultants are here to help you find what you need. Contact them at anytime for sizing questions, finding the right item or simply providing gear advice. We look forward to serving you and wish you the best in your outdoor activities. Let use know how your trip or activity went, we love to hear your stories!