July 7 at Mill Creek

Monday:  The countdown is basically TWO days from now that Dylan and Kelly leave for London. Both are working long hours today to try to prepare for being away for two weeks. So I picked up the four kiddos at 8:30 and we headed over to Mill Creek to do a little bit of exploring before going to my house.

I decided that since rain looked rather imminent, we should go where the access point to the creek was the closest and didn't require walking across the railroad tracks to get where we wanted to go. This little place is just off the parking lot to the public library--very handy.

There isn't quite the same expanse to explore ... it's less interesting here ... but I could better keep track of the four of them here than at our other place. Although there are "bends" in the creek over here, all four were told that I had to be able to SEE all four of them at all times. In other words, do not wander around the bends in the creek--too much can happen when children are in a creek like this--unknown stuff like getting into deep water suddenly, or tripping and hitting your head on a rock and passing out, etc. I know those are worst case scenarios, but we grandma's have to be on the safe side.

The children love to get into the water like this. We still do not have any shoes for Brendan, which is regrettable ... but he is very careful and watches where he is walking. I love to see him smile as he discovers interesting stuff along the creek.

And this little guy ... I can't even put into words his obvious delight in throwing rocks into a creek. He is one tough little cookie--he never fails to amaze me.

Ah, Brendan -- do you know how much you are loved?

I made Erin wear MY water shoes. They were too large for her feet, but they tied quite nicely around the upper part of her feet and, as long as she didn't RUN in them, she was fine and her feet were safe from whatever she might step on in the water.

Aidan has a very adventurous spirit and always, always, always pushes the limits of "instructions." I let him go as far as I could and still see him at a distance ...

He very badly wanted to keep walking around the next bend. At this point, I was on top of the little bridge that crosses the creek so that I could still see him. When I was under the bridge, it limited my vision quite a bit.

Naturally, Cal had to join his big brother.

Look how small they look!

I love these pictures. I love to watch children without SCREENS and technology to squelch their brains!

Erin got sick of wearing my large shoes and decided to stay on the side of the creek for awhile ...

Look what we found at the edge of the creek -- kind of a hollowed out tree! We thought it was very interesting.

It began to sprinkle about an hour after we arrived, so we packed it up and drove the ten minute distance to my house ...