a hike

We enjoy many things about our neighborhood and about living so close to Dave's parents.

This is just ONE of them...

To get from our house to theirs, you can take the road.

OR, you can take the water route.

The kids LOVE going on a "nature hike" to Papa and Nana's house.

We walk a block or so down to the water, and then leave the wagon parked so we can venture the rest of the way on foot.  We walk all along one side of the water to the very end, where Papa and Nana's house is. And then we walk back along the other side.

We all enjoy this route, but I think the 5th member of the family enjoys it the most...

Anni swims the whole way.

Not the whole way in a straight path.

But she fetches her ball and swims back and forth to us the whole way while we're walking.

So lots of zig zags.

Someone else likes to stay busy the entire way too..

If I was to list some of his favorite things to do right now - picking up sticks would be HIGH on the list.

He picks up sticks on our walks, at the park, at the zoo - everywhere he possibly can.

A nature walk that should take 15 minutes, takes 45 minutes or longer because of this little guy.

He lags behind the entire time.

Picking up sticks until he can't hold anymore - and then still tries to pick up more.

But then he spots Papa's house - and picks up the speed, just a little bit.

Dave and his dad built that dock so the grandkids could all get in and out of the paddle boat easily.

That red chair was Dave's grandma's.  We had it at our first house (which was her house) when we first got married and I had Dave paint it red.  I LOVE it - especially sitting right where it is.  Even thought it's not at my house anymore.

Our route brings us out to the street and over the bridge, right to Papa's house - the half way mark.

The cotton has been CRAZY - this particular day it covered the water (all the white in the water), covered the grass and filled the air everywhere you looked.

I guess since dogs can't read, and the picture on the sign is only a human - Anni must be exempt from this rule.  Although we do have to be careful about beaver traps!

After a visit with Papa and Nana, we make our return trip on the other side.

Right back to where our wagon waits patiently for us.

It's only a matter of time, and these kiddos who are growing WAY too fast, will be going back and forth from our house to Papa and Nana's....without us.