summer hiking habit.

we are trying to establish some new summertime habits around here.  one is to hike.  so far, it is lovely.

the girls can’t wait for the next hike.

we started this day off at the 22nd street trail head.  for any one who is local, or who wants to be, these trails are fantastic!  they are not difficult in any way.  we had six kids, ages 8 (almost 9) to 1 and they all walked most of it.  these trails are wide, clear, and not steep.  they are also away from water (right now that is a good thing, a very good thing considering how much water we have right now..).  the trails also loop around and intersect so even when the kids went ahead a little, they were led right back to us.

ashley earned a new nickname: ashley butt-dragger pitcher.  my mom told me to think of a nicer way to say it, but it is what it is..

she liked to slide down some of the hills.

 

then there were the many flowers…

and cute kids..

 

abby (my niece) liked me every so often..

 

then she would make faces at me…

there is just a touch of yellow on lynn’s nose.  she likes the flowers too. :)

there were dandelions nearly as tall as peyton!!

see!!  talk about making our wishes more accessible.

  

i wasn’t the only one who liked to stop and look at the flowers though…

 

ash found herself a sturdy walking stick.  she was sad to leave it behind, but i am sure it will help someone else out.

then there was the exciting part.. 

my oldest brother (abby’s dad) is a crazy (well not so crazy since he became a dad) biker.  he and his family are used to this area because they come biking here frequently.  and jumping here.  there are jumps they have built and love.  we didn’t have bikes, but the boys wanted to show grandma where the jumps were anyway, and she suggested they pretend like they had bikes.  the kids had a blast.

 

and then right after her last jump, lynn biffed it good.

i think she was trying to be like uncle ken.

 

she is feeling much better.  amazingly didn’t pass out on the spot at the sight of her own blood (even the little bit of blood from loosing a tooth will cause her that much stress) and she is looking forward to our next adventure.

i am so happy that this is my back yard..