Sunday, April 16, 2017

A Sunday Saunter

There's a great place just up the road from our house called Yates Mill.  It's an old corn mill, and we've been there on a field trip to take tours before.  This particular Sunday (it's been several weeks now) we decided to head out in the afternoon to burn off some energy with the kids by exploring a few of the trails around the lake.

What beautiful scenery!  I always love getting out of the house for a fun, low-key hike with the kids.  Of course, these outings don't always turn out as planned. Sometimes the tensions get high, accidents happen, injuries occur, fights break out, weather turns bad, and so on.  You know how it goes, right?  But at least we try.

This outing was generally a success, despite a few little arguments.  We discovered a trail that connects to the NC State Ag. farms and played on a big wooden swing hanging from an oak tree on the edge of their property.  Very cool.  And these days its seems that our oldest can always be found with a volleyball attached to her.   She and her dad volleyed all they way around the lake, which did happen to annoy a few of the other hikers (in our family!)

But I seem to love this place.  If it weren't for the bit of road noise that you can hear on part of the trail, it would be almost perfect.  So serene, so green, and best of all...close to home.

Notice the Duke Splash T-shirt my volley ball girl is wearing.  She got that at an event held at Duke University the day before our hike. It was for middle and high schoolers. She was able to choose 4 classes and have a pizza lunch for free!  Some of her home school buddies went too and she loved it!  They turned her loose on campus with a map and a list of her classes.  So much freedom and independence!!   She was totally seeing herself going to school there in the future, which, of course, was probably the whole point of the event.  





Monday, April 3, 2017

Strawberries

Wow, strawberry season comes early in NC.  Not a problem! All the more time to pick, eat, jam, and enjoy.





NC Zoo!

Today we took our family to the NC zoo.  The only other zoo I have to compare it with is the Woodland Park zoo in Seattle, which we have visited many times.  I like that zoo in Seattle a lot.  Lots of good memories there.  But if I had to pick the best one, I'd say it's NC Zoo hands down!

What a beautiful zoo! And what a fabulous location! The tram was super convenient (except the part where they make you remove your sleeping child from the stroller, empty the stroller of ALL its contents, and fold it flat before you board).  And the exhibits were very engaging.

We didn't get to see everything of course.  You never can do a whole zoo in one day.  We look forward to going back again!  Next time we hope to take all the kids.  Our oldest stayed home with a chest cold today.  Sad.  :(

   



  



   


  

   


Saturday, April 1, 2017