Spring Outing

Spring has been creeping into Chicagoland; days are getting warmer, flowers popping up, trees unfurling their leaves. And the kids have gone back to full-day school, from half-day, which has opened up opportunities for field trips. This week I got to tag along for a trip out to the woods with Townshend. It was the perfect day for it!

We started off the day with the kids sketching in the woods or out in the field, then we explored down by the river. Quick break for snacks, and then they had choir in the woods. 

After that, we played some field games, followed by exploring the woods a little more. While they out poking about in the woods, the kids found what looked like a mummified toad:

And, a little later, an adorable (and alive) little toad:

I really enjoyed hanging out with the kids and it's always fun to be out in the woods. Hooray for a little taste of normalcy.

And hooray for a gorgeous day in the woods!

Hiking Misadventures

 This year, one of the things we've been trying to do more is to get out into the woods. There's a place, not too far from us, that has become our regular spot. Townshend's class has had a couple fieldtrips out there this year too, making him even more familiar with fun areas to explore, which is even more fun. Also, it's been a really mild autumn this year; the warm weather keeps popping up. So, we go out to enjoy it.

This forest preserve is divided by a road running through it, and our favorite side is on the south. However, that is also the side that has a river that's prone to flooding, so when it rains we often have to do our exploring in the area on the north. It's still beautiful and woodsy, but there aren't as many hills and valleys to run through which, in the kids' mind, makes it less fun. 

And, even when it rains (and you have the right clothes), it's still actually pretty fun to hike. That's what took us out into the woods the other day, in the rain. We were actually having a lovely time. The autumn leaves were still in their prime and the rain wasn't too chilly. The kids were running and splashing and it everyone was having fun.

Also, Moon has recently taken an interest in photography.. so he commandeered my phone and took a great number of pictures of "the nature."

Then, we accidentally wandered into a huge bramble patch. Turns out, this woods has brambles ALL over. For me, it wasn't too bad.. I'm pretty tall, was wearing jeans and some boots, so the prickers were only mildy obnoxious. 

Townshend was doing ok, though he was feeling frustrated because he couldn't find a specific fun spot, discovered by his class on a recent fieldtrip, that he'd wanted to show us.

But poor, little Moon.. he was wearing sweatpants and he's pretty short. The prickers collected up in his pants all the way to the edge of his jacket. Every step was uncomfortable, and he refused to walk any further. This was a problem since we were a ways from the parking lot.

I carried him for a little bit, but he's big enough that I can't do that very long anymore.. but mostly, we walked very slowly back to the car. But, slow and steady, we eventually made it there (where he was stripped of his "porcupine pants" and rode home bare-legged.

Aside from the brambles - which , now we know what to look out for, I was pleasantly surprised at how fun hiking in the rain can be. It might take some convincing for Moon, but I'd totally go back out again.

First Forest Foray

This winter has been a doozy. Not so much for the coldness, but that we've all been so sick! I keep thinking we're past it, and then someone else gets knocked over. Happily, there are occasional reprieves. As it happened, there was a weekend when we were all on the better side of healthy AND the weather was unexpectedly nice. With Chicago weather, there's no telling how long it'll last (in health and warmth), and I decided to seize the day and dragged my kids out into the woods.

Venturing into the woods with kids is a mixed bag... they get so excited to get out there, but then you get going and then they're ooooooh soooooo tiiiiiired. Ah well, fresh air is good for the soul and experiences build memories, right? Hopefully good ones!

It was a beautiful day. There's not much color poking up through last fall's growth, but the sky was blue and the air was warm, and there were lots of people out enjoying the day, bringing a great energy to it all. We even saw a couple white tailed deer strolling across the paths.

We walked about a mile and a half, over all. They really were troopers. Plus, it didn't hurt that there were benches and little shelters (or, "tree houses" as the boys dubbed them)  at regular intervals along the trail for snack breaks and rests.

However, full disclosure... It was my turn to get sick the next day. Still, I'd totally do it again.

Matthiessen State Park

There are some families who pick a place and call it home; kids born, raised and return to raise their families. Then, there are families like mine. We were more nomadic. This tendency has carried through with us all into adulthood. Even as adults, my siblings and I have moved around a bunch. Though, I've lived in the Chicago area nearly 15 years now, making it the longest I've ever lived anywhere so, perhaps, I'm turning over a new leaf.

My siblings and our families are strewn over the States, but every now and then a sibling will move closer to me.. which is always very exciting. One of my sisters moved within a day drive, a couple years ago. Which meant we got to hang out more. Sweet!

Then, this summer, she announced it was time for her to move again. Hooray for her! A little sad for me. However, it being summer and the time for doing fun things, we seized the day and met up for one last day trip at Mattheissen State Park. 

This was a new park for all of us, but the reviews online were good, so we drove out. It's really close to Starved Rock, but not quite so developed. However, there was supposed to be hiking and water, which sounded good to me! At the trail head, there was this fort. It was actually having some repairs done, but we snuck in before they started, so we didn't realize it was off limits. Whoops!

Then, off to the trail we went. In my research, I learned a new word "anticline".. apparently this park has the biggest anticline in the state! Woo! There were certainly a lot of steps going down.

Once you get down all the stairs, there are some trails around the falls and the river winding through. We could hear the falls as we walked around. And there were some really cool rock formations... and a fair amount of mud.

In our wandering, we found a neat, old bridge. The architecture in the park was cool. Some of it was really basic, just wood planks, but as we got to the lower areas the stairs and a bridge had lots of detail (that's how you know it's old).

The bridge was down a whole bunch of steps already, but the river as bunches more stairs down from there. The kids were on a quest for water, so down we went.

As soon as they saw the river, off came the shoes and the hiking was done. But the scenery was gorgeous and while the kids splashed, we grownups had a little time to hangout and chat.

Eventually though, it was time to head out. All those stairs going down were a breeze! Going up took a little longer. Happily, there were benches at frequent intervals along the the path.

We didn't make it to any of the falls, while a bit of a bummer, it just means that we'll have to go back again sometime! After all that walking, we decided it was time for something sweet. Our original plan was to check out this little place off the highway, Two Girls and a Cupcake. It was very pink. However, by the time we pulled up, they were all sold out. We consoled ourselves by playing on their statues out front...

...and with some ice cream from a shop a couple doors down.

It's always fun to hang with my sisters, and it's a joy watching the cousins play. Basically, it's clear now that I'm just going to have to figure out how to get myself out west so we can all play again soon!