The Great Outdoors

I am loving the type of childhood my kids are able to have living in a place like this. We have an entire playroom full of toys that they mostly ignore. They have transformers, star wars toys, puzzles, toy guns, lightsabers, blocks, games . . . and most days they trade it all for a bicycle, a stick, and some room to play outside.

There is a great mountain trail that begins about 1/4 mile from our house, and the kids love to ride their bikes through the ever-present mud puddles. It is a beautiful trail that makes me feel like I'm on vacation every time we hike it. I can recall paying money and traveling to places in the mountains to experience activities like this!









There is also a creek at the park across the street from our house. One of my kids' favorite activities is splashing in the creek . . . when it wasn't planned. For some reason, it's always more fun when they get an unexpected "yes" while wearing their clothes than when it's planned and they're in swimsuits.