#makesmesmilemondays On the Moo-ve with Yo-Kids Smoothies: A Winter Hike

It was cold outside yesterday, and we woke up to a city blanketed with snow. But it was sunny, and the kids were clamoring to go sledding. So after a big breakfast, we stepped into our snow gear and hit the road. 

We arrived early, and the only footprints visible in Caldwell Woods were those of the deer, rabbits, and other woodland critters (Here's a great guide to animal tracks!). The kids unloaded the sleds and did many runs on the sledding hill, but then I loaded Chiara, my 3-year-old, onto her sled and pulled her into the woods. What a workout! My son and his friend followed. We arrived at a lovely, pristine and icy stream, and stopped to play for awhile. 

Chiara makes snow angels overlooking the stream.

The kids were fascinated by the thick yet breakable layers of ice at the edge of the stream. They spent over an hour breaking of chunks of ice and throwing them into the stream, making snowballs and snow angels, and playing on the trees and with the branches. "This is more fun than sledding!" the boys agreed. 

They could have played at our little spot by the icy stream all day. 

One of the best things about Caldwell Woods is the blazing fire at the indoor warming station. 

We warmed our hands by the fire and refueled with Stonyfield's newest Yo-Kids product: Yo-Kids Smoothies. Made with real organic fruits and veggie puree, each bottle accounts for 1/3 of kids' recommended daily serving of calcium. I like the size of this snack: it's a mini bottle - just 3.5 ounces - just enough to fill up a tiny, hungry belly, and give a burst of energy to the bigger kids, too. 

I always forget how wonderful it is to be outdoors in the wintertime. When you're dressed defensively against the cold, it's delightful to spend time outdoors in a snowy forest - and hiking into the untouched woods was magical. I know the kids (and me!) got some good exercise in, as we were all exhausted the rest of the afternoon, and spent it relaxing in the warmth of home. 

Disclosure: Special thanks to Stonyfield Organic for sponsoring this blog and this post. All opinions are my own!