Springing into the Forest

Monday we kicked off spring break 2014. We pondered going to the Lake (aka Lake of the Ozarks) with my parents, but I did not have a plan as to what we would do there. So the kids opted to stay here.

Day one: The forest. It was a beautiful, dare I say, SPRING, day in the mid 70s! The first NICE day of the year! What a perfect way to kick off spring break. We went to the forest, played on the indoor playset, had an outdoor picnic, walked the boardwalk seeing cardinals and deer on our walk, and then played at the acorn acres.

After all the nice fresh air, we met up with friends at the Ralston park. Alivia played with her friend Katy while Addi and Asher played with their friends Kaitlyn and Will. It was so nice we stayed for at least 2 hours!

Back at home, we ate dinner before taking Pippa on her first walk of the year. It was beautiful! Wish it could have continued, but we live in Nebraska.

Day one down...and what a fun day it was!

Fallin' Into the Forest

After our morning of making pottery, we set off for a picnic at the forest with our friends Will and Krissa. Asher was excited to get outside, run, make noise and to meet up with his friend. It was a beautiful afternoon with temps near 80. We will soon forget nice weather like that, right?

The trees had started to change filling the Fontenelle Forest with beautiful colors. The smell of fall was in the air. The boys started with a picnic, followed by playing a long time at Acorn Acres, and we then had a little walk on the boardwalk. Before we knew it, we had to leave to get back to pick up the girls from school.

What a beautiful way to spend a fall afternoon. Let's do that again!

Going to the forest?
* Wear comfortable shoes
* Dress in layers. It is always cooler under the trees of the forest, but all the walking warms you up.
* Bring your camera to capture nature
* Bring snacks, drinks
* Pick up a trail map!
* Have Fun!

Celebrating Summer

I had to top the College World Series? Really?

Thursday was the 1st official day of summer, so we had some fun summer things planned today. May as well still do them, right?

I called up our morning play date, and they were still a go for the forest. Yeah! The girls..."NO! WE DON'T WANT TO GO!!" Seriously? I would rather be at the ballgame! :)

We went to the Forest, since I am that mean of a Mom. We arrived and our friends arrived shortly there after. I'm going to put this out there, not happy that the forest does not allow guests on my pass anymore. I think that is total crap (sorry, no better word for it). I mean really, I pay for 3 kids and 2 adults. There were 4 kids and 2 adults today. They would not allow it. UGH! Whatever, guess we know where we will NOT be going to take friends from now on. But anyway...

...the dinosaurs are at the forest, again. Déjà vu anyone? We started at the Acorn Acres area, playing, getting wet and muddy after last nights rain. Krissa and I somehow convinced them to go on the boardwalk to look at the dinosaurs (I believe the goldfish crackers I brought may have saved us for utter meltdowns here). The kids RAN the boardwalk, maybe stopping at half of the dino exhibits. I may not know much, but I do know that kids typically stop and pay attention when they are interested. These dinos just really were not what these 4 kids wanted to see. At least they got some exercise, right?

Finally, we sat down for a picnic. It was nice, shaded, and the weather was perfect. The kids were quite full of energy...perfect way to bring in summer. Everyone seemed happy (after the morning...this came as a surprise).

We moved to the basement and upstairs exhibits before calling it a day. The kids were WILD! It was crazy! The Forest was quite busy, busier than I have ever saw it. We had fun, but it seemed like more work than fun this time. The exhibit upstairs was fun and interactive, and the kids seemed to enjoy that.

We found highway 75 to be closed (cows in the road?! Only in Nebraska), so we took our way home. Our afternoon play date now had other plans, so I quickly came up with something new to fill our afternoon. Asher was now at home, so we decided to roll out, frost and decorate our summer cookies from yesterday. We invited our friends over to help. The kids had a fun helping me roll out the dough, pressing in the cutters, and baking them. But, they had way more fun decorating them! You should have seen the piles of sugar on the floor (and in the cracks of my hated kitchen table!). Pippa, our dog, was in sugar heaven. My friend Krissa helped with the sugars while I frosted the cookies. And, just as I got our friends full of sugar, it was time for them to go home (Sorry, Krissa!).

It was a full day, full of fun and sugar!

Sugar anyone? At least they are cute!

Just Your Average Day

Today was just an average day, another day we are trying to get into a summer groove. This summer it is more difficult. For starters, Daddy it is at home. So, I have to teach the girls that Daddy is home, but he really isn't. Do not ask Daddy for a piece of fruit, to play Frisbee, or to go on a bike ride with us. Daddy is at home, but he is at work. That is really hard for them to understand. Shoot, I am still trying to adjust to that. Just as we get adjusted, he is gone in Florida. It is a constant adjustment around here.

Anyway, today we started the day with a nice bike ride around the lake. The kids even had an added bonus of seeing their friends from Kids Club at Bell taking a walk to Shadow Lake. It was like they had not seen them in forever. It was nice, crisp, morning for a bike ride.

Once at home, it was time for Alivia's 8 year check up. Huh, she can't see. Chris and I are not sure this is a real issue or Alivia just wanting glasses (and really, from our point of view, who would want glasses?). But, we will go spend $$$ to find out as we are being sent to a specialist for her severely bad vision. (Again, really?). From a clinical point of view, the girl has no complaints of headaches and appears to see fine at home. The only thing that I had heard is that she asked to move up in the classroom at school so she could see better. Ugh...to be continued I guess. One more thing to put on my ever growing "to do" list, right? Anyway, she was otherwise healthy, so yeah and thank goodness.

We had a little treat for lunch following her appointment. Alivia and Chris wanted Subway and Addi and Asher wanted McD's and I clearly wanted to drive all over to get everyone's lunch to make everyone happy. Yeah for Mommy.

Then it was finally time for our trip to the forest, per Asher's request. As we arrived, we saw the Dinosaurs being unloaded for the upcoming DinoQuest 2. We even got a sneak peak of some of them. The last time we were there, Addison and Asher saw the dinosaurs in pieces as they were being loaded up to travel on, and I heard about that forever (Are they hurt? Where is their head? Why did they have to take them apart?). Luckily, the kids were old enough to understand this year. Whew.

The forest was so green, the air still crisp, but perfect for hiking and walking. It was a fun afternoon.

Slowly, we are adjusting to our summer days. I know next week will bring Catholic Education and more change. And soon, Chris will be gone again.

Oh wait, I think I see a date night coming soon...

With Great Determination

Is that a dino?

Little Monkeys

Picking up "sticks"

So sweet!

Break Time

Seat with a view

Making Mud Pies

Today was the first time I have ever taken any kid to Mud Pies at the Fontenelle Forest and we have been members for at least 4 years (that is REALLY sad!). I have seen it in their monthly newletter, and I had decided to start taking Asher in January. Well, it is May and I finally took him today. What can I say, it took me a while!

Today's theme was worm play. There were real worms and worm activities throughout the room in the basement of the forest building where Mud Pies is held from 9:30-11:30 M, T, and W throughout the school year. Yes, I said the school year. There is only 1 left of this year until they are off until summer. I barely got Asher to one of them! I know, totally bad mom here.

Anyway, Asher and his friend Xander started with Dot Art, play doh, looking out the window into the forest, searching for worms in the sand, making an art project on the easel (Asher's was very colorful), having a snack of a graham cracker (dirt) with a gummy worm on top, playing around in the rest of the basement awhile before making it back to make a worm out of clay. Oh, and they had bubbles and chalk to play with outside. It was a fun morning. One could come and go as you please, it was not set up so you are stuck there. This was my real fear. So, I may actually go back! Asher did not socialize with any kids except Xander, but he was able to use his mind and creativity. And, it is just good for him to get out and experience new things (and play with worms).

Now it is time to clean up this messy house since we have not been home lately. I have laundry screaming at me from all parts of the house...so better get to it.

Lost in the Forest

Last Tuesday (yes, I am THAT far behind), we decided to take a small hike in Fontenelle Forest after school as a family. I packed my cooler backpack and we were on our way. The kids picked and trail and then just took off. Okay, in hindsight, I should have insisted that they stay on that trail and not go too far ahead. But, they were having fun, so Chris and I just took our time walking hand in hand behind them.

Several turns and several trails later, I turned to Chris and said, "I'm Lost." He laughed as he pointed in the direction we needed to go to set back to the lodge. We walked and walked and walked and walked. We began at 4 pm and it was now well after 5pm.

The kids began to complain. We had been walking pretty much non stop for a hour!! The forest was pretty, however, with its many shades of fall colors. We saw a deer and wild turkeys, too. It was beautiful and the air smelled fresh. The temperatures were still on the warm side as Chris and I took turns carrying tired Asher and Addison (who took her first potty in the woods!!).

As we approached 6pm, Chris and I were getting worried. Where were we?!  There not any trail maps at the kiosks placed throughout the forest. But, one must have fell from the sky miles away from the lodge. After reviewing it, we realized we were walking in the wrong direction (further from the lodge!) and needed to turn back.

After more walking, we finally reached the lodge at around 6:15, tired, hot and hungry. Whew! What a workout.

A short walk would have been fun. But, the forest has over 26 miles of trails. I believe next time we will skip them if they can not supply a map!

Oh Deer!

Turkeys!!