Weekend 10

Last weekend Josh with mountain bike riding with some guys from church.  Meanwhile, the girls and I went for a hike on the same trail.  I took my camera with me.  I was struggling finding the balance between mom on a hike and photographer in nature.  Consequently, my photos were not technically the best.  BUT ... they documented our fun outing together, so it's still a win!

Audrey at the plaque that sits at the trailhead

Audrey and the valley below

Josh and buddies starting their ride

"Look mom ... the number 8"

These wildflowers were so pretty.  Unfortunately I couldn't get a good photo of one.  Guess I'll have to go back and try again.

The valley below.  You can see probably 20 miles east.

Pretty field at the top of the hike, where our trail met with several others.  This is where we chose to turn around.

I loved how the purple flowers and yellow flowers looked together on the side of the trail.  But again, just couldn't get them in focus. 

The girls were ecstatic to see a lizard on the trail.  He skittered away as soon as I tried to get closer to get a better photo.

Both girls together at the plaque at the trailhead. 

Hike with the Girls

I took a detour on the drive home the other day and ended up driving past a local regional park with some hiking trails.  After I explained what the place was, Audrey was itching to go on a hike and check it out.

So Saturday afternoon, after we all took much needed naps, the girls and I went on a little hike.

We logged about 2 miles total.  But with small children, that's 2 very SLOW miles.  We stopped a lot and rested.  We took our time going up the hills.  We looked out on the valley below from the top of the hill.  We mooed at the cows at the bottom of the hill.

The girls each had a copy of the map and they followed along, finding each trail marker on the map as we passed them on the trail.  We got to the 5th trail marker when we decided to turn around.

It was windy.

The girls learned that cow poop is also called a cow pie.  They learned what they look like and know not to step in them.

I practiced patience with them and let them play and have fun and move at their pace.

They posed for pictures.

Audrey fell, got up, wiped off the dirt, and was ready to keep going.  (My girl's a rockstar when it comes to falling!)

It was an awesome outing and I hope to go again.

Got the map - we're ready to go!

PEACE!

The view from the top of Donlon Hill

Looking down at the valley below

Believe it or not .... the bay is visible from here.

CHEESE!  (now can we go home mom?!)