Hiking

Usually over the summer I go crazy with a list of things we are going to do while off for 2 months. I make charts, write up on our chalk board, do incentive reading, etc. and you know what? It usually always fizzles out within 3 weeks or so (and I'm being generous here). This summer, I decided not to do any of that but instead just focus on getting the kids out and about and doing and seeing things we don't normally have time for during the school year.

So far, our summer adventures have led us to local parks for letterboxing. You can find more information for letterboxing at www.atlasquest.com The girls and I have been on two letterboxing hikes so far this summer; both to local parks that are close to our house. It is so fun to watch them try to find and figure out the given clues for each stamp- and it has also been a challenge at times as some of the clues were written many years ago. A "small tree" is now not so small!

At Burfoot Park

At Burfoot Park

At Priest Point Park

 And can I tell you that I saw a whole new side of my mom when we took her for a letterboxing hike? We couldn't find a couple of the clues and she was bound and determined to find them. Climbing through bushes, up trees. Oh my! I've never laughed so hard! 

I also sent an all call out on FB at the beginning of summer for must do hikes with the kids. We tackled our first one, McLane Nature Trail with my sister and her kids. Can I tell you how much I love my sister? Its true! We giggled throughout the entire hike as we encountered grumpy kids, a SNAKE (I hate snakes) , a wrong trail that led us to someone's property and no beavers (they promised we'd see beavers!). After what seemed like forever, we finally arrived back to the car and while turning around discovered the ACTUAL trail that we were supposed to hike on. Re-do Darci? Soon!?!

McClane Nature Trail....or rather, by it.



Don't let these cute smiles fool you. They all had a melt down at one point on the trail.