4tunate

We took the boys for their first adventure to Turkey Run State Park. (Our old stomping grounds from our high school sweetheart days.)  I LOVE this park and being surrounded by God’s incredible creation, and couldn’t wait to share it with my boys.

Our day started with a picnic lunch on a picnic table large enough for the Duggar family.  From there we checked out the Nature Center’s snakes, turtles, honeybees, and the wildlife viewing area where we could watch squirrels, chipmunks, and birds eating and interacting. You would have thought we had taken the boys to the San Diego Zoo.  They were so fascinated and excited.

Next, we followed a trail into a canyon and climbed some rocks. Total Big Boy Stuff.

Followed by some rock throwing, splashing, and wading in Sugar Creek.

My Little Swamp Monsters… (Left to Right: Henry, Clark, Brooks, and Isaac)

They soaked it up… literally. And so did I.

Before we left the park, we checked out the stables and were able to pet a few of the gorgeous horses.

Such gentle and amazing animals!  Maybe next time we’ll be able to take a ride. 

Summer is just around the corner, and hopefully it holds a few more incredible adventures and memories as sweet as this one.

I’m curious, what’s YOUR favorite State Park or place to experience nature?

There’s nothing better than a warm Indiana Spring after a bitter Indiana Winter!  We are soaking up every hour of sunshine and park hopping.  Not the theme park hopping you might be thinking of…the FREE kind!  

I think we’ve already hit up five different parks this spring, and there will be several more added to the list by the end of the summer.

The boys are more entertained and independent than ever at our local parks – which makes for one very happy mama! The last couple of years, I was wishing I could grow octopus tentacles to help swing, catch, boost, and herd 4 toddlers at once.  What a difference this year!

They are so proud of their accomplishments and how they no longer need my help! {Bittersweet}

There’s no slide off limits or no ladder too difficult to climb for these little dudes.

I also love how they initiate little friendships at the park. Here they were pretending to be at Disney World ordering food at the restaurant next to the monorail with their new pals. Isaac was in the process of ordering a “sugar hot dog”.

The park always receives bonus points if there’s a vehicle big enough for all the brothers to fit inside. These two claimed their spots first.

So how about YOU?  Do you hit up your local free park playgrounds in the spring/summer time or do you prefer the backyard instead?  Are you park hoppers or are you regulars at a certain park?

It’s spring in Indiana, my favorite time of the year.  After an unusually cold and snowy winter, it was really refreshing to see the flowers, leaves, and warmth of spring emerge.  The spring always brings a flurry of new activity with it.  Gardening, mowing, fertilizing, and cleaning are typical for most of us.  At our house, there is another slightly more unusual activity that starts in mid-April, morel mushroom hunting.

Ever seen one of these?  In the Midwest (and I believe some other areas of the country) there is a delicacy that grows spontaneously for a few weeks in the spring.  They come in a small variety of shapes and colors, but are all VERY good to eat.  My dad and I spent many hours each year when I was young searching for these, which built some amazing father/son memories that I will always treasure.

What could be a whole lot better for a little boy after being cooped up in the house for months on end?  Our boys LOVED being in the forest and although they lost interest quickly in searching for morels, the “adventure” was a great start for them.

I think it is so good for our kids to get out in nature whenever possible.  It is amazing to watch them light up with the excitement of discovery and  adventure.  There are no amount of science books or movies that could teach them so much, so quickly. 

What are your favorite spring activities?  Anyone else out there hunt morels?

Brad