Creek Outing Observations

 We took advantage of a quiet day to borrow some of our favorite kids for an outing to a county park. Everyone's instinct kicked in just as soon as we hit the trail head, and, before I knew it, I was last in line.

You're almost to the right spot at Preddy Creek the trail gets sandy.

And just as soon as you reach it, you'll find the perfect spot to ditch your shoes and step into the stream.

 Life is good in a shallow stream. Everyone finds something to do that's developmentally appropriate.

 There is so much bending over, digging, splashing, sifting, capturing, searching, tossing, feeling, laughing, questioning, sharing, collecting, and comparing.

My least favorite part is calling for everyone to turn around and head back upstream, but home is the inevitable ending destination. It's where the popsicles await in the freezer.

These creek outings are among my favorite summer activities. Without toddlers to steady I now get to watch them conduct their own experiments in that environment, snapping photos or asking questions as we move past each bend in the stream. The cool water provides some temporary relief to these Virginia summers and all of our senses seem to be sharpened. The ride home is mellow as if we're all revealing in the outdoor therapy, and in the quiet I mentally examine the calendar to plot our return.