The Great Outdoors

We have officially started off our season of summer.  I'll tell you... we went from cold and rainy to HOT and HUMID!  I am sorry to say, we did not have much of a spring.  I am not complaining, though.  I don't mind the heat.  Summer is my favorite time of year.

So far, we have spent one night camping (well... it was at mamaw and papaw's farm... that still counts right?...  It was in a tent!)  We have went swimming, picked strawberry's, went pond exploring...

This-Is-Just-The-Beginning. 

Summer has always been my favorite time of year, but now that I have three boys, it is even more important.  Boys need to be outside.  All the time.  Period!

I met with a couple of friends on Monday.  Between the three of us we have NINE boys!  (all under the ages of NINE, I might add!)  We went to a local nature preserve.  The place is awesome!  It is a large woods with many different trails that can be walked/hiked.  There is also a few different ponds, and one in particular that we always visit.  Matt's Pond.  The nature center provided us with a back-pack filled with pond exploring tools- nets, trays, magnifying glasses, identifying brochures.  And, off we went!

I was proud of little Joey (my 2yo.)  He walked that first trail all by himself!  I just can't believe how fast he is growing up!  After about ten minutes of walking, we finally made it.  It was just crazy watching all those boys swarming the pond.  Caleb... (it's always Caleb, my friends second born) was in the pond in no time flat!  There was another mom there with her two little boys who were sitting right by her side.  She looked at me in astonishment and said, "That little boy is in the pond!"  My response?  Well, Caleb is always in the pond.  No big deal!  It wouldn't be the same as entertaining if he was not in the pond.

The above mentioned mom with the two well behaved boys had a fish in their bucket.  They actually caught something.  Joey was mesmerized with that fish!  He insisted on joining this family so he could sit and keep petting that poor little fish.  It was cute watching him, though.  Joey kept giggling because the fish's fins kept tickling his little fingers.  I really wish I had not forgotten my camera!  That would have made for a nice video.

Once we were finished with the pond, it was lunch time.  We ate lunch then headed for some trails.  Other than the fact that the boys would not stay on the path (at the nature center, you are expected not to disturb any of the nature,) the rest of our day was pretty uneventful.  We all had a great time, and can't wait to do it again!