June 9 Grand FOUR, Part 2

Monday (continued):  As I was driving all of us to Dwight Lydell Park, the children were telling me that they couldn't remember ever being there. I tried to tell them that we had been there a few times last summer--reminded them of the playgrounds and the little creek that we threw stones into. However, none of them could recall it until we drove up to it and parked the car. THEN they remembered!

I took along my stomp rockets and a few paper airplanes because I knew Cal would love to fly them out in an open field:

Aidan's stomping netted his rockets launching VERY high into the sky--he was quite pleased. Little Cal's didn't go quite as far, but he's a littler fellow than his brother.

It was mostly Cal and I stomping on the rockets and launching them, which we did for quite awhile.

After awhile, Aidan remembered the CREEK and asked if we could go throw rocks in it. YES! We walked across the field to where we usually access the creek, but a family was fishing in that very spot (under the bridge). So we walked further down the creek to the bridge (below), but there wasn't really a good way to get to the creek without walking through very deep weeds ...

Finally, I remembered the place over by the old train depot ... so we headed over there. It's a rather long walk--thankfully, it was nice and cool and comfortable. I didn't hear a single complaint from any of the kiddos about the long walk! Yay!

We finally made it to the creek ... but the access to actually putting our feet into the water was VERY narrow and rocky ... what to do?

Well, Brendan was game to try it right where we were. It didn't take long for Aidan and Erin to take off their shoes and join Brendan. I would not allow Cal to get in where he had to let himself down from a ledge (like the kids did here). I had another plan ...

But first, these 3 kiddos explored this area of the creek while Cal gathered rocks to throw from up above.

I noticed that on the other side of the train bridge, there was much more of a slope and "beach" front to the creek ... but how to get there?

I pointed under the bridge to the other side and told the kids we were heading over there. All three of them asked if they could go "by way of the creek" instead of coming out and going over the bridge like Cal and I were going to do. I watched them carefully make it safely under the bridge to the other side, and then Cal and I joined them.

Cal was so happy to finally be allowed to get into the creek! All four of these children did so wonderfully and were SO happy to be outside and FREE to explore and wander and just enjoy this beautiful day. What a gift this was to me.

We decided that this will be a regular summer hang out place of ours! I will have to find my small nets and buckets and other water exploration gear and see what I can do to get these guys some safe water shoes to wear IN the water. Aidan was wearing his crocs and those worked really well. Erin said she has a pair of crocs and so does Cal; however, Brendan doesn't. I'll have to work on this before next week.

Cal! You are adorable.

Brendan! You are SO GROWN UP.

The kids got a little more than wet while exploring the creek; and naturally, they were not wearing water clothing, because I really hadn't thought this out very well in advance. So it was decided they would play on the playground until they got somewhat dry. Everyone agreed this was a good idea.

We didn't return home to their house until sometime after 3:00 in the afternoon ... closer to 3:30. I got right to work on cleaning up the kitchen a little bit. Erin kept me company, talking constantly about our upcoming sleepover this Sunday.

Just know this--today was the best day I have had in a very long time. I can't even explain how FULL I am of the love of these little ones. Thank you so much, Lord.