Even More Radnor Lake!

We just can't get enough of gorgous Radnor Lake and since we had my great old roomie Jen in town, we decided to sign up for their "Fall Harvest" hike. It turns out it was basically us, a nice older man, and the ranger. Basically, we had our own nature expert tour us around the lake! The girls hunted for all kinds of twigs, leaves, and acorns that poor Miss Jen agreed to carry for them. The ranger showed us some great plants and trees including the black walnut, wild persimin, duck weed, papaw, and hickory. We also were fortunate to see a flock of wild turkey munching on acorns, a fuzzy caterpillar, deer, and a very cool centipede. Natalie made it all around the lake without being carried even once (2.6 miles). Noelle was carried briefly against her will since she wanted to dig in the dirt with a stick instead of walk! Hopefully with all of our many trips to Radnor, we are planting seeds for a life long passion for nature in the girls.

Radnor Lake Autumn Stroll

Today I took the girls to Radnor Lake to hike around and see the animals. We were very excited that our good friends could come with us. While the fall colors still have yet to really pop, it was a gorgous day. It is becoming a tradition that Noelle spots a deer, yells "DEE-YAH!" at it and bolts for it at top speed. Somehow, deer don't like hanging around us for long. This happened nearly as soon as we stepped on the trail. Later on, our friends spotted another deer and we got some good pictures before Noelle caught wind of what was going on. We probably walked about a mile total before heading over to Warner Park for some additional play time. It is so refreshing to have places like Radnor Lake and Warner Park to bring the children. They really love the chance to run and explore the natural world.

Hollow Creek Falls and a Visit to The Farm

This morning was one of those times where I didn't have any other plans so I hopped online and looked at all my options. We started off driving about an hour and a half near to Summertown. There, the girls and I hiked down to gorgous Hollow Creek Falls. While the trail was a bit steep and bumpy for Natalie's taste at times, we all made it and really enjoyed the view. We also discovered a millipede on the trail to the girls' delight.







While researching back at home this morning, I had noticed that this hike is near "The Farm." The Farm is a community that actually was started by the hippies back in 1971. It was created with the goal of establishing a strongly cohesive, outwardly-directed community. The whole community is vegetarian and does not consume any animal products. They are also very spiritual, anti-war, and believe that everyone is "one." Farm inhabitants grow most of their own produce, sell products in their general store, publish books on site (mostly vegetarian cookbooks), run a mid-wifery program, teach at an eco-village training center, and maintain a school for all the children that live there. Unlike some hippie-embraced concepts, the community is anti-substance abuse and very family oriented these days. While The Farm is no longer communal, many families live there in their own houses or buildings.

The girls had a good time playing on The Farm's playground and shopping at the general store (we bought some carob covered peanut clusters). I was fascinated about the community and chatted with two different ladies who had lived there since the '70s. Very interesting place! I just wish I could have found an old psychodelically painted hippie bus or two, rusting away on someone's lawn!

Hike at Montgomery Bell State Park

Our family decided to do a day hike at Montgomery Bell State Park. The girls were very excited about every leaf, stick, rock and bug. Dada kept Noelle on a short leash..literally, due to poison ivy. A highlight of the hike was when I spotted a tortoise in the folliage off the trail. The other highlight was Dada showing the girls how he can skip rocks in the creak. We may come back here some time and camp. It was a beautiful day.

A Family Hike in the New Year

Today our family threw our packs and our kids in the car and drove to Sycamore Canyon in Poway. It was a chilly but sunny day which warmed up as the morning went on. Chris and I each carried one child on our backs and we set off into the canyon. The first part was on the canyon rim trails which are narrow and a bit steep. Natalie serenaded us with her version of "a dog singing Jingle Bells," "an owl singing Jingle Bells," and basically any animal on Earth singing Jingle Bells. Noelle chattered away happily, most of the time in "Noelle-ese." We eventually reached a pretty oasis of sycamore trees and bright green grass down on the canyon floor. After this part came the longer trek back up out of the canyon. After a while, whining ensued and we finally agreed to release the youngsters and let them run. They immediately took to collecting rocks on the trail and running around like wild banshees, drunk with their newly found freedom. I snapped a few pictures before continuing our trek back to the parking lot. The hill on the way back was a bit daunting but we all made it. We had to put the kids back in their packs for most of it which as you can imagine, was not met with gratitude. All in all, it was a successful three mile hike with the girls. They are not as light as they used to be, however we are excited to see them becoming more independent in walking the trails themselves. The most precious part for me is to see the girls discovering nature and enjoying the natural world so much. Our family certainly will have many hiking adventures to come.

Hiking with the Girls

Today is Thursday and for the vast majority of Thursdays since Natalie was two months old, that means hiking for us. Natalie's first hiking outing was on a chilly January weekend. Her Dada and I decided to go to Elfin Forest which was one of our favorite hiking finds around our area. Natalie was all bundled up in her only outfit that had mittens attached to her sleeves. She also wore a Hannah Anderson hood-style cap that reminded me of Snoopy as the pilot in the peanuts cartoons. My husband wore his tiny baby in the bjorn all the way up and down the mountain. Our little tiny Natalie just bounced along and slept happily on Dada's chest for the entire trek. When we reached the peak, I had to feed Natalie since little ones eat so often. It was a beautiful day and the view was incredible. I think both my husband and I were relieved to find that yes, we could still hike with a child.

Tons of hikes later (and quite a few bjorns and strollers later), here I am today still hiking with my Natalie but now also with little Noelle. I have upgraded to a new double decker stroller to fit our needs. I have become the captain of a hiking playgroup over the last two years. First I brought friends informally through other playgroups and now I have my own. Things have changed over time. It is not as easy to hike with the babies now that they run, jump, and tantrum. Some members have moved away, taken day jobs, or found other things to fill their Thursdays. Some of them would like to come but their toddlers don't share the same desires. All these things have resulted in hikes that occur only monthly instead of weekly. While it is sad that the hikes are less often, this opens doors for new activities and opportunities while still getting our hiking fix occasionally.

Today we are hiking at Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve. We have four Mamas, two little boys, and two little girls. I am thrilled to have the company and the adventure. We set out with our jogging strollers, sippy cups, snack traps, diapers, and all the rest. The air is filled with bird songs, the wind, Mama conversation, and the occasional toddler demands. About a mile and a half in, we reach the waterfalls. Pictures are taken and children are fed. On the way back the kids are released from their joggers and allowed to explore the trail within close sight of the Mamas. Natalie attempts of run miles away on a couple occasions which results in me yelling after her to come back. She doesn't, and I have to sprint after her as she cackles with glee. Eventually after watching her friend Emberlynn, she begins to understand how the other children stick nearby. We play a game of red light green light to reinforce the concept of listening to Mama. It is somewhat successful! Maybe next time Natalie will stay close by..or maybe not. Noelle rides in the back seat of my jogger and stares out at the canyon grasses. At the ripe age of 5 months, she is already becoming a hiking veteran.

My husband and I dream about days ahead that include tents, campfires, and child size walking sticks. We buy board books about nature and hope that we are raising children that appreciate our natural world. My husband has already helped Natalie to notice the trees (do they have leaves or needles?) and she also has a good understanding of animals and their sounds. I am excited about scouting programs, 4H, summer camp trips, and school science projects. Some day our family will all walk a trail together and make it to some high peak. Until then, I am happy to push my little ones down the path for as long as they need me to. On the way home Noelle falls into another blissful sleep. I ask Natalie "Did you have fun on the hike?" Her answer is music to my ears. She smiles and replies "Yeah."