This weekend was a hot one! Temperatures got all the way to triple digits on Saturday, so we decided to go somewhere we could stay cool and (at least) get our feet wet. We packed up the kids and headed to a local state park to explore the creeks there, equipped with water shoes, nets and minnow buckets. I grew up in the country and we had an awesome little creek at the end of our driveway. I can't even begin to tell you how many hundreds of hours my brothers and friends and I would spend in that creek. It was our happy place. So, I get really excited when I have the chance to take my city kids into the woods to act like country kids...and they're really good at it!
The water was cold and felt great in the heat. There were fewer minnows and more mosquitoes than we were expecting, but the kids didn't seem to mind one bit. Mac was intense in his hunt for minnows to fill our fishtank at home and Mim exclaimed "baby fishy!" everytime she saw one. We didn't find any crawdads, but we did find a sculpin, snails, clusters of caterpillars and lots of rocks with really cool fossils. Both kids loved exploring, but went about it in their own ways. As usual, Mac was full-speed ahead and forged his way down the creek bed, splashing and throwing rocks as he went. Mim lagged behind, taking her time examining every rock, every leaf, every flower. It took her 20 minutes to cover the same distance as it took Mac 2 minutes. We fielded a million questions from Mac, such as "Is this a dinosaur tooth? Is this the same kind of water that's in the river? Is it illegal to throw rocks at people? Why can't people eat rocks? Do fish eat rocks? Do dinosaurs eat rocks? Why is the water cold? Why does that tree look like that? Is this a vine? Are there any dinosaur eggs here? Is that a crocodile? Is this poison ivy? Can we find a snake? Are there trout in here? Where are all the turtles?" Having a 4-year old is exhausting. After a couple hours (and a couple meltdowns), we headed back to the car with our fill of fresh air, sunshine and mosquito bites.
Hope you have a chance to get out and explore this weekend!
As usual, great pictures! Mim is looking so grown up in these pictures!!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures Sara!! Looks like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteI think Mac is getting to the root of the question on all of our minds - what purpose do rocks serve if you can't eat them or throw them at people?? Very good questions Mac. And beautiful photos, as always!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like fun! LOL at Mac's questions. Simon is almost 6 and still going strong...today he asked me why I was touching the steering wheel while driving. Hmm, let me think about that one!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool spot!! Looks so refreshing and a perfect place to beat the heat. How fun to observe them each explore in their own way. :)
ReplyDeleteOh such fantastic pictures! I need to take the girls to a creek STAT! Mac's questions just made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great summer adventure! It looks like the nicest day!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures per the usual! Creeks are such a blast though. I loved finding those when we went up north for summers as a kid. And, those questions lol. Aria peppered me with those over dinner this evening. She's cute, but I can only take so much.
ReplyDeleteSo many questions Mac! I feel like Noah's entering the million question phase. His favorite being why!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos lady! Mim and her little chubby thighs just melts my heart!! I want to squeeze her. :) I love all of the outdoor fun you guys have.
ReplyDeleteThis is crazy beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMan, y'all are too cool. We need to head out and find some great places like this!
ReplyDeleteLooks like the perfect day of summer fun! That creek is beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteYou take such awesome photos! Always so impressed with your photography. I remember playing in creeks for hours when I was little as well.
ReplyDeleteSounds like so much fun! I wish we had a creek nearby!
ReplyDeleteSophie is in the why stage, but not why statements, just "why?" along with "no"
liz @ j for joiner
Oh my gosh Owen would love to do this! There is a creek close to us at a park, but there are often snakes down there, so daddy def has to be the one to take him.
ReplyDeleteI want an adult-size of Mim's swimsuit for myself!!! Great pictures! You guys are always so adventurous and I love it!!
ReplyDeletePer usual, great pictures you captured. I want to go creeking, like, right now. :)
ReplyDeleteHow incredibly fun! I love finding a good creek to explore. I wish we had more of them around here. Or maybe they’re just hidden and waiting for us to find them! Great pictures, as always!! Also, the questions never stop with boys. Mason is 6 and still asks a gazillion questions everyday!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Looks like the perfect way to cool off!
ReplyDeleteLove that it took her 20 minutes longer to explore the same space her brother covered! Cute! This looks like Mastodon State Park! We go there about once a year and eat at the Dough Depot in Kimmswick for lunch first.
ReplyDeleteCarrie
curlycraftymom.com
AS always, beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! She is so cute in that little floral bathing suit!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to beat the heat! The kiddos look like they had a blast! Xo, Stephanie
ReplyDeleteI love the nostalgia! And my kids would so so live a day of this! Snails! And "baby fishy"! So so sweet!
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