Hiking and such.

Now that the girls are getting older and are more or less self-ambulatory, we've been trying to get into the great outdoors to go hiking more often.  We each have our own reasons for this...for my part, I am determined to ingrain in them a deep love of camping, hiking, and the natural world.  Andy, I suspect, goes along with my plans because he is willing to do anything that might tire the girls out enough to allow us to sleep through the night.  Especially if that doesn't involve another round of "Monster Game" on the trampoline.  Ahem.

Regardless of our reasons, Sunday morning found us at another local natural treasure.  The hike started off well, with lots of skipping and running and general merriment.  Before long, the girls were climbing bridges and taking in the sights:

"Daddy, GET BACK.  Daddy, go stand by Elsie.  DADDY, NO TOUCHING!"

And then we began to re-evaluate our choice, as we came upon the first posted "map" of the nature area:  a big plasticized picture of the ENTIRE TOWN, with a one-inch green-colored nature blob in the middle, and a red dot labeled "You Are Here" in the middle of it.  And no labeled trails or streets or general directions.  Not all that helpful.  Still, we trucked on.

And then S decided that she no longer wanted to hike, but would rather be carried the whole rest of the way.  And when I say "decided", I mean Loudly Informed the Entire Park.  Repeatedly.

And then E decided that she actually did "NOT like hiking at all, but would rather be biking". Or "maybe sitting at home and resting".  And she did not approve of the fact that some of the plants on the path were touching her, and her feet were getting dirty, and her legs itched, and she did not think she knew where she was going.

And then we got lost and accidentally ended up wandering down a very busy street for a few blocks before finding our way back into the woods. 

And pretty soon the more intense whining began, and the general dragging of feet, and the screeching complaints of imminent collapse.  So this bench happened, along with a very large bag of Goldfish crackers:

Yes, that is Daddy on his phone.  Yes, that is S single-handedly devouring a family sized bag of fish.  And yes, that is E's butt on my lap.  Because "Are We Having Fun Yet"?

Lucking, we were getting close to where we left Kermit car.  Unfortunately, it turned out that the way back to Kermit was mostly up hill, and mostly in the sun, and mostly among tall grass and flowers that "touched" E when she walked.  But we made it:

The Last Ten Yards.  Everyone was really happy, and not at all crabby. 

Boom.  Another round of Good Ol' Family Fun under the belt.