Nature Walk

It's Friday! My favorite day of the week. Home from work, two kids to take care of, and an empty day to fill as I (ok...we) wish. It's a beautiful thing.

Somehow October is almost over. The leaves are changing colors very quickly, and the sun goes down early...it really does feel like fall. Today is cool but not cold, and the sun is mostly out, so I thought it would be a good day for a leisurely walk.

We headed over to Stonehurst/The Paine Estate as we did this past spring for our Easter Hike. That time we walked north of the parking lot; this time, we navigated south so that we would see some new terrain.

Andres was excited about visiting the "forest" as soon as I told him where we would be going. We arrived there around 9:45--not bad at all for a lazy morning--and then I packed Celia in the Bjorn for the hike. She was kind of bulky with all of her layers, but it made for a warm (and happy) baby. That is always good.

It was a nice walk--we did not see any animals, but we enjoyed looking at the trees, leaves, and different kinds of things that grow in the forest.

My big guy!

Andres had a good time scrambling over a few fallen trees and, as shown here, hopping between rocks.



Soon it was time for a break. And then another. And then...another. For a little while, I was convinced that I was going to emerge from the woods with a baby strapped to my chest and a toddler affixed to my back. (Thankfully, this did not happen!)



We headed out of the woods just as Celia was getting cranky. We headed over to Stonehurst proper where everybody stretched their legs and enjoyed the fine October weather.



Just 6 years ago Natalia and I were getting married right up the hill from where I was now playing with Andres and Celia. That day was beautiful too, though certainly warmer than today...but the colors and the sky were the same, and it felt right to be having so much fun with them in this place. Too bad she has to work on Fridays and could not come with us!

My big girl!

We packed everything/everyone up around 11:15 and headed back home. Celia conked out in the car--Andres came very close to falling asleep himself, but managed to hold it together until we got home. Then it was off to Cappy's for a pizza lunch. Celia kept trying to grab my pizza--no surprise there--but seemed relatively satisfied by cereal and applesauce...Andres, clearly hungry from the walk, did not need any reminders about eating his pizza.