Nature... Fall

We happen to live very close to one of the better state parks in southwest Ohio, so we try to go for a little hike now and then. There are a couple of paths to follow, and one of them is along a little river. The kids seem to like it and it is nice to just be outdoors, in nature, and enjoying the family. Max diligently leads the way. First, our mostly reserved and soft spoken child, talks the ENTIRE TRIP. He is narrating the whole adventure. Whenever we come to a fork in the road, he talks about the different paths, describes their difference and then makes the decision on which one to take. If Ross tells him to go on the other path, he agrees and then commentates on why the first choice may not have been the best! I can't really describe in words what this adventure is like with him, so I won't even try. You will just have to take my word for it, it is darling and sweet and hilarious all at the same time.


Here he is saying, "We made it to a pretty place. Now we will stop and take a break, and then turn around!"



And Zoey, who is normally in the lead, directing all matters of play, organizing everyone into their "roles", actually takes the back seat during our nature walks. She just walks along closer to me, looking at the different leaves and their sizes and colors. She did step into some muck though, and was so angry! It was at the beginning of our adventure and we had to calm her down to keep going. She gets fired up over things like that. She was much better, however, after Max took a little fall and she wasn't the only one who had gotten dirty! The competitiveness over everything is a big deal in our house right now. I have a feeling it is not something that will end anytime soon, either. On a side note, I guess I can't really blame them. Ross and I have been running around our loop to see who can run the fastest time! I guess it is in their blood.

Here she is throwing rocks in the river. Her hands got a little dirty and then she wiped her face.


Here you can see the marks on her face. We didn't dare tell her, or she would have had to make Max's face the same! See, so competitive.


This is a blurry one, but I always have the camera, and forget to get pictures with me, so I had to keep it and post. The camera is actually focusing on a spider web, I think.