Trails and a Turtle

I feel like the boys and I have been lucky enough to have some pretty fun adventures this summer. But unfortunately, Jared seems like he has to work during so many of these times.... his job, and then always around the house with our remodeling project and then all the regular home owner upkeep... And he just misses out on way too much.

So this past Sunday morning, in lieu of church, we took the boys to the local Wilderness Center. 

We collected rocks. We hiked. We climbed. We fed the geese, fish, ducks, and (highlight of my morning...) TURTLE! 

Sometimes it seems like we don't really get too much just "us" fun, family time - where working in some way is not involved.... So as simple as this was, it was special for us.

And it was just what we all needed.

  First stop, the rock collecting pit!

 Daddys says, " I found my rock!"

 And after they each found a special one for their pocket, we were back on the trail.

                 "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy." 

-Guillaume Apollinaire

 Next stop, the bat house. Wasn't too much to see, unfortunately. We get more action around our yard every evening!

 

 Here they come!

 And I'm thinking this was in the middle of another "Mom Lecture"... this time to the tune of "When we get down there, don't try to pet the geese. Throw the food. Don't get too close and don't try to touch them. They WILL bit you."

 ♥ ♥ ♥

  

The GEESE!!!

 They had so much fun.

 And this little boy is one of the sweetest, most thoughtful big brothers I could have ever hoped for. He held Graham's hand so often throughout this trip. And here he was protecting him from the geese, and explaining that he is not allowed to touch them.

 Tossing their bread

 And now for the fishies!

 Peek-a-boo

My baby is not such a baby anymore

 Trying to get the ducks involved

 

Passing out crackers... probably about half were eaten before they got tossed ;)

And our little Turtle friend!!!

 He was so fun. And he wasn't scared! He was letting us feed him!

 Mommy may have had more fun with him than the boys did...

 And onward with the hike!

Holden caught a ride :)

 

 And this kid stopped for a snack.

 We hiked all the way to the tower, and all the boys climbed it to the very top! 

(I am not a fan of heights, so no photos... I was pretty much ready to come down the minute we got to the top. Ha.)

 "Slow down and enjoy life.  It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why."

- Eddie Cantor

 

An incredible lesson that I need so much to work on.

"Smile, breathe, and go slowly."  - Thich Nhat Hanh

Because this is it, guys. This is life. We only get one of this day. Every day.

And there is no going back.

♥♥♥