Summer Adventure

This summer, with two active girls, I have tried to be intentional about planning some day trips where we can spend time together. Summer is flying by, so I want to take a minute to post about a recent adventure we had together. Grandparents who have already heard this story can hear it again- you'll live!

It has been really hot on the East Coast recently (and I mean REALLY hot), but we planned our day to start early so we could go pick some blueberries!  Blueberry season is almost over and Mikayla and Susannah really enjoy them. They did a fantastic job picking, but there is no shade and they were getting hot quickly. So, even though their buckets weren't full, they still had three pounds of blueberries and some peaches to show for their sweaty little faces. After we loaded into the car, we headed over to the park.

I say the word "park," and immediately, Susannah is asking if I will push her on the swings.  I had to explain to her that we weren't going to that type of park.  We were headed to a historical/nature park, where they have converted an old plantation into a park with several nature trails to hike or ride(horses, not bikes). 

My girls have never gone hiking on a nature trail before, so the questions started even as we left the car.  Mikayla's was the funniest,
"Mom.  Are there any venomous snakes here?" 
"No." (I am thinking, No more Animal Planet for her!)
"Are there ANY snakes here?" 
"We aren't going to see any snakes, Mikayla." (You are so loud, they will take flight long before you see them)

Like smart hikers should, we check out the map to pick the path we want to walk. I direct the girls toward one that circles a small pond and is only about a mile long. Walking around the pond gave us ample opportunity to take in the wildlife around us. We see a squirrel first (we don't have them in our yard) and the girls were on the lookout for dragonflies and butterflies. We were walking along when I hear, 
"EEEEeeek!" (what?!)
"Mom! There is a Daddy-LONGLEGS over there!" 
"It's okay, Mikayla, there are lots of them outside. They are part of the world God created."

Mikayla is satisfied by that answer, and we keep walking. As we walk, I notice that Susannah is lagging behind, walking while looking over her shoulder. I try to encourage her to keep up.
"Mom. That daddy longlegs is followin' me!" Yep, the little spider was walking along the same path we were. Finally, we move along and start heading around the end of the pond.  There, slithering off the path, is a BIG, black snake!  Both of the girls see the snake and (surprisingly) completely take it in stride...just part of nature, I guess. We finish up by catching a great view of some turtles sunning themselves on a log over the pond.

Overall, we had a lot fun at the park. Both Mikayla and Susannah were eager to get home so they could tell Jeff what they had seen (Mikayla even brought home a pinecone to show him). Hopefully we will go back soon so we can check out some of the other paths!

What adventures have you had with your children this summer?