Long Hikes

Our oldest is in Boy Scouts.  One requirement for Second Class was to take a 5 mile hike or a 10 mile bike ride.  He choose the hike.  Here are just a couple shots from that:

 That would be Kevin and our oldest way up ahead.  Wonder what they were talking about.
Some things, though, are better left between a father and his son.  It's a guy thing

that I'll never understand!  Just thankful that Thing One (& Thing Two) have a

Dad that is crazy about them.

Our handsome second son.  We seemed to be going at

the right pace for each other.  Charlotte had no choice but

to hang out with me.

Geocaching

geocaching ~ a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online.

We went geocaching today, for the first time.  Thought it would be a bit easier than it was, after all we were using the GPS on our IPhones ~ isn't that suppose to be accurate?  Hope to find more that are close so that we don't have to drive to find some.

We didn't take anything this time, as we didn't have anything to leave.  We'll know what to have for the next time.

Afterward, we continued our walk.  It lead into asking Thing Two if he felt like a giant or if he were jolly (he was in green sweatpants and a green hoodie).  We'll have to find a commercial on you tube to show him.

Our Jolly Green Giant

Just because we mentioned all in green, we needed an all in blue:

Miss Charlotte is finding the creek more and more enjoyable.

Our hike ended shortly there after, other commitments were calling.

Beginning of the week

It's a rainy Monday morning as I type out the first blog of the school week. Coffee is ready, boys are still sleeping (although Thing One may be up before I am finished), chores are started (Kevin started the dishwasher ~ Thank You!!!!), and I'm just getting to introducing our school week. Madlib Monday will still be here, just later today.

We are reading and rowing "Owl Moon" by Jane Yolen, illustrated John Schoenherr this week. It's another winter favorite of ours. To begin our study of owls, we went to a local county park Friday night for an "Owl Pondering". We got a quick introduction to Owls, dissected an Owl pellet (good starter for me as we have two for each boy here), went on a hike "to see" nocternal animals. Unsuccessfully I might add.

At Hidden Pond Nature Center, there is a barn and garage for office space and garage type stuff. There, an Owl usually likes to hang out. The staff a few live mice, that they would throw onto the garage roof, so the owl would come and get it. Very cool to see it swoop in and hear the talons scrap the roof. The birds are very quiet. Neat opportunity for the boys.

Well, we've had a number of rainy, above freezing days lately. It got me thinking that prior to when we left, that boots would definitely be in order for the hike. My thought proved wise. The boys and my boots after hiking:

There is a lot more fun stuff to come, this go around of Owl Moon. I'm not sure who will enjoy the book more, the boys or me. Guess we'll find out on Friday!!


P.S. Our oldest is still asleep, at 7 AM, as I get ready to post.