A Mother's Day Eve Outing

When the weather is nice, but not too nice, and the sun is getting low in the sky the four of us will often take a quick trip to the arboretum. Most places we travel theses days a stroller accompanies us. With two toddlers and many distractions it's often easier that way. I really would like to leave it at home more and I'm always looking for an opportunity to work on M's endurance. So, the 4 of us make the trip around Meadow Lake sans stroller at least once a week. It's a little over 1/2 a mile which is a perfect distance for the girls right now. In the evening and especially if the weather isn't perfect the arboretum is less busy-- which is just how we like it.

This past Saturday it was cool and overcast most of the day so we practically had the place to ourselves that evening. It seems as though the girls are more aware of the nature around them when the people watching opportunities are slim. And I've noticed that when we are quiet and refrain from over directing their attention, our kids find some of the coolest stuff to explore all on their own and they seem even more engaged to boot. I just love that. So, we take our time letting them wander off the trail to check out different plants, signs, animals, and sounds. Yes, it may take us 45 minutes to an hour to walk that .6 mile path (which does frustrate Mike a little -- but he's getting better), but it's such a fun time. Sometimes it's my most treasured hour from the entire week. That was certainly the case this Saturday.