Sunny Days at Cold Lakes

We actually live quite close to a really lovely lake. We never go. I feel like we should go up there more, it's about 15 minutes away and it's amazing. The sun came out this past weekend and it wasn't a single digit temperature so we decided to go exploring a bit.

The kids all seem to do better when we get out of the house. Being in the house stagnates us, we get cranky and annoyed with one another. Yet with the same company in the fresh air we're like different, happier people.

Miles had become a fan of all jackets that have hoods. He loves to have his hood up even when it's not particularly necessary. However it was quite windy, so he was really better prepared than most of us for the icy air blowing in off the lake.

We stopped by the water for a snack of beef jerky and ridiculous gas station pastries (BIG TEXAS I do LOVE YOU!) and just spent some time just...BEING. I love the sound of air whooshing through the big Georgia pines.

We saw the dam which we hadn't really taken in before, and drove over it. Louis obviously thought that was awesome. Ok I did too. The twins love taking walks even when they don't, it seems to relax them even though Charlie will fuss if we walk for too long. Mostly he wants to pick up sticks and crumble them in a world where no one bothers him about it. Nature walks are the perfect place for that.

And as for us, I think sometimes we just like to walk and watch our children discover the world. Some days that's as good as it gets.

Tweet

Sunny Days at Cold Lakes

We actually live quite close to a really lovely lake. We never go. I feel like we should go up there more, it's about 15 minutes away and it's amazing. The sun came out this past weekend and it wasn't a single digit temperature so we decided to go exploring a bit.

The kids all seem to do better when we get out of the house. Being in the house stagnates us, we get cranky and annoyed with one another. Yet with the same company in the fresh air we're like different, happier people.

Miles had become a fan of all jackets that have hoods. He loves to have his hood up even when it's not particularly necessary. However it was quite windy, so he was really better prepared than most of us for the icy air blowing in off the lake.

We stopped by the water for a snack of beef jerky and ridiculous gas station pastries (BIG TEXAS I do LOVE YOU!) and just spent some time just...BEING. I love the sound of air whooshing through the big Georgia pines.

We saw the dam which we hadn't really taken in before, and drove over it. Louis obviously thought that was awesome. Ok I did too. The twins love taking walks even when they don't, it seems to relax them even though Charlie will fuss if we walk for too long. Mostly he wants to pick up sticks and crumble them in a world where no one bothers him about it. Nature walks are the perfect place for that.

And as for us, I think sometimes we just like to walk and watch our children discover the world. Some days that's as good as it gets.

Tweet

On Daddy's Day Off

Daddy went to watch football and not worry about diapers or potty training or dinner, or the bills, or the pool, or what needs fixed, or cleaned, or laundry. He went to drink beer and cheer on the Colts (GO COLTS) and relax.
So, we went on a picnic.

We went to the Environmental and Heritage Center in the woods down the road to eat our lunch and take a short walk. A very short walk.

It was an adventure though, through the woods and we saw lots of beautiful things.

The walk did us all good, fresh air and a cool breeze is never a bad thing and I think it was just nice not to be cooped up in the house.

We're calling this NATURES TOILET. Or Lou is.
The Heritage is a green facility and they have a lovely water reclamation site that they've cleverly disguised as landscaping.

We wandered along the waterway and enjoyed the peaceful sounds of rushing water and the wind through the trees. Why did we ever stay home on these days? We should always come out.

The best part of our part is when Julia farted. Have I mentioned that she thinks you aren't supposed to fart in your pants and cries hysterically whenever it happens? That makes us laugh and then she cries more. We're mean.

But it IS funny.
Tweet

On Daddy's Day Off

Daddy went to watch football and not worry about diapers or potty training or dinner, or the bills, or the pool, or what needs fixed, or cleaned, or laundry. He went to drink beer and cheer on the Colts (GO COLTS) and relax.
So, we went on a picnic.

We went to the Environmental and Heritage Center in the woods down the road to eat our lunch and take a short walk. A very short walk.

It was an adventure though, through the woods and we saw lots of beautiful things.

The walk did us all good, fresh air and a cool breeze is never a bad thing and I think it was just nice not to be cooped up in the house.

We're calling this NATURES TOILET. Or Lou is.
The Heritage is a green facility and they have a lovely water reclamation site that they've cleverly disguised as landscaping.

We wandered along the waterway and enjoyed the peaceful sounds of rushing water and the wind through the trees. Why did we ever stay home on these days? We should always come out.

The best part of our part is when Julia farted. Have I mentioned that she thinks you aren't supposed to fart in your pants and cries hysterically whenever it happens? That makes us laugh and then she cries more. We're mean.

But it IS funny.
Tweet

Thwarted Plans Turned Adventure

We planned our Saturday meticulously. We were going to a special screening of DESPICABLE ME 2 for special needs families. We'd packed the diaper backpack (the husband did) and I got up extra early and got myself ready, staged breakfast and woke the kids up early and we were OFF and made it to the theater before the movie started.
My phone buzzed in the parking lot, and I glanced at it to see a message from the Autism group, the movie was sold out. Something had gone wrong, they'd advertised the showing - it wasn't private. Another message came through, the manager apologized and opened another theater.
We rushed inside and got in line - SOLD OUT. Turns out they were just letting regular non-special needs folks in both theaters and we didn't make it. Four children stared at us blankly as we strolled out, like what are we doing? Why aren't we going in?

We were heartbroken.

We went to take care of something timely, signing Julia up for soccer and the twins up for special needs soccer and then pondered what to do with out time. We were up and awake. Where to go?

First, we decided lunch was in order and went down to the REXALL GRILL.

It's an old school diner attached to a drug store and a fun place to start our jumbled day.

Louis highly recommend the coconut cake. Julia ate, umm, nothing. Apparently "not liking anything anymore" was on the menu with her. 

After lunch we decided to check out a local park that had a farm on it, like a working 1800s farm. Of course, it wasn't working, it was closed. Perfect. 

So, we set out for a short walk. 

I had dressed to go to the movies. I just got a pedicure two days ago, so I wore sandals, and jeans because we were going to be indoors in the AC. I had not dressed to hike. Suddenly, we were hiking.

You can take all my bitching about this as rote. I actually LOVE taking nature walks, when I am not wearing non-walking friendly sandals. However by the time we were done my hips and feet were screaming and I'm still suffering a bit today I have to admit. But there were good things, like the gorgeous runoff creatively made into a waterfall.

We also engaged in one of our old family activities, mushroom hunting. We love to spot the various kinds and were delighted to find these orange ones. I don't know what they are, but they are so gorgeous.

And even though I wasn't happy to be on such a long walk, it was hard not to stop for snaps of such gorgeous flowers. A bee stopped by and was the perfect addition to this shot.

We ended our day with a pizza buffet and arcade games. I think our kids were never so glad to get home and get into bed after such a long day.

And THAT, is how we turn a ruined day into adventure. 

My feet still hurt though.

Tweet

Thwarted Plans Turned Adventure

We planned our Saturday meticulously. We were going to a special screening of DESPICABLE ME 2 for special needs families. We'd packed the diaper backpack (the husband did) and I got up extra early and got myself ready, staged breakfast and woke the kids up early and we were OFF and made it to the theater before the movie started.
My phone buzzed in the parking lot, and I glanced at it to see a message from the Autism group, the movie was sold out. Something had gone wrong, they'd advertised the showing - it wasn't private. Another message came through, the manager apologized and opened another theater.
We rushed inside and got in line - SOLD OUT. Turns out they were just letting regular non-special needs folks in both theaters and we didn't make it. Four children stared at us blankly as we strolled out, like what are we doing? Why aren't we going in?

We were heartbroken.

We went to take care of something timely, signing Julia up for soccer and the twins up for special needs soccer and then pondered what to do with out time. We were up and awake. Where to go?

First, we decided lunch was in order and went down to the REXALL GRILL.

It's an old school diner attached to a drug store and a fun place to start our jumbled day.

Louis highly recommend the coconut cake. Julia ate, umm, nothing. Apparently "not liking anything anymore" was on the menu with her. 

After lunch we decided to check out a local park that had a farm on it, like a working 1800s farm. Of course, it wasn't working, it was closed. Perfect. 

So, we set out for a short walk. 

I had dressed to go to the movies. I just got a pedicure two days ago, so I wore sandals, and jeans because we were going to be indoors in the AC. I had not dressed to hike. Suddenly, we were hiking.

You can take all my bitching about this as rote. I actually LOVE taking nature walks, when I am not wearing non-walking friendly sandals. However by the time we were done my hips and feet were screaming and I'm still suffering a bit today I have to admit. But there were good things, like the gorgeous runoff creatively made into a waterfall.

We also engaged in one of our old family activities, mushroom hunting. We love to spot the various kinds and were delighted to find these orange ones. I don't know what they are, but they are so gorgeous.

And even though I wasn't happy to be on such a long walk, it was hard not to stop for snaps of such gorgeous flowers. A bee stopped by and was the perfect addition to this shot.

We ended our day with a pizza buffet and arcade games. I think our kids were never so glad to get home and get into bed after such a long day.

And THAT, is how we turn a ruined day into adventure. 

My feet still hurt though.

Tweet

Mushroom Photo Safari

It's still one of the oldest boy's favorite things to do, to hunt for mushrooms that are unusual when we take nature walks. We didn't really HAVE mushrooms where we lived in Florida, or if we did there was such and abundance of insane wildlife they ate them up. So it's like a sport, spot the mushroom, as we walk through the humid canopy of Georgia pines.

I don't know anything about mushrooms. Well, I know they are a fungus. And they're fun to kick. I don't like to eat them. Hunting them to take pictures of them is probably my favorite thing too.

The husband probably knows, but I don't care, as I'm not interested in eating them regardless. Ick.
But they are sort of beautiful these weird little fungii populating the forest floor.

There is a wee little frog just to the left of these two, it's so tiny you can't really see it properly. But we were excited to see it. It's the smallest frog I've ever seen.

A walk through the woods was the perfect way to start the fall. First day of school, here we come.
Tweet

Mushroom Photo Safari

It's still one of the oldest boy's favorite things to do, to hunt for mushrooms that are unusual when we take nature walks. We didn't really HAVE mushrooms where we lived in Florida, or if we did there was such and abundance of insane wildlife they ate them up. So it's like a sport, spot the mushroom, as we walk through the humid canopy of Georgia pines.

I don't know anything about mushrooms. Well, I know they are a fungus. And they're fun to kick. I don't like to eat them. Hunting them to take pictures of them is probably my favorite thing too.

The husband probably knows, but I don't care, as I'm not interested in eating them regardless. Ick.
But they are sort of beautiful these weird little fungii populating the forest floor.

There is a wee little frog just to the left of these two, it's so tiny you can't really see it properly. But we were excited to see it. It's the smallest frog I've ever seen.

A walk through the woods was the perfect way to start the fall. First day of school, here we come.
Tweet

Remember When?

The oldest boy says "Remember when we used to go to the park all the time and take nature walks?"

I do remember. That period of time was called "unemployment". It's funny though, that was just us trying to get the kids out of the house to do something free and to him it was this great time, this memory of something awesome we used to do.

To me it reminds me of being broke, having nothing and worrying how we were ever going to survive.

We still go to parks, just less because there are other things to do.

I have to admit though, it is fun walking through the heavy Georgia woods and looking for mushrooms like we used to. We even found a few cool ones to show.

Yeah I remember when.

I guess it wasn't all bad after all.

Tweet

Remember When?

The oldest boy says "Remember when we used to go to the park all the time and take nature walks?"

I do remember. That period of time was called "unemployment". It's funny though, that was just us trying to get the kids out of the house to do something free and to him it was this great time, this memory of something awesome we used to do.

To me it reminds me of being broke, having nothing and worrying how we were ever going to survive.

We still go to parks, just less because there are other things to do.

I have to admit though, it is fun walking through the heavy Georgia woods and looking for mushrooms like we used to. We even found a few cool ones to show.

Yeah I remember when.

I guess it wasn't all bad after all.

Tweet