Waterfall Hike

17 October 2015

We'd had such a great trip to Idaho/Bear World but we missed our Dad/Hubby.  It was fun to be home from that trip and still have the weekend with him.  We decided it was such a nice day that we should hike up to the Battle Creek waterfall.  I sure hope we make a habit of doing so because it was delightful!  We packed a few snacks and our best hiking clothes (uh, whatever we were wearing) and drove to the parking lot at the base of the hike.  I wore Oliver in the carrier and Matt had the hiking backpack for Daniel and/or Kate. 

Daniel and Kate were excited to wear their cool sun hats that change when exposed to sunlight.  Oliver was basically asleep they entire hike.  I sure love having a little person snuggled up next to me :)

As we started on the trail I watched for "wishing rocks" so that I could tell Kate and Daniel about them.  It took me a while to find one but they noticed I was picking up rocks and asked what I was doing.  As soon as I told them Kate was anxious to find one.  We talked about trees and sounds and rocks and water.  I l-o-v-e-d it!  Here we are at our first snack stop (we had a few). 

Once we got to the pond Daniel was anxious to get out and throw rocks.  Kate was equally excited.  What is it about throwing rocks into water that is so interesting?  I know not, but we had a good time doing it.

Matt pointed out a few fish in the pond as well.

 

As we continued on our way Kate, in her very-excited-hands-expanded-and-arms-pumping-in-and-out-way said, "LOOK!  The SKY is MOVING!!"  The clouds above were low and it was easy to see their movement.  It was a pretty exciting discovery for Kathryn Elaine.

 

 

As we walked along Matt or I would ask the kids if they could find different things.  Matt knew this little cave was coming up in the hike so he told them to look for it.  They thought it was pretty cool to go inside.  It's perfectly sized for little people.

 

Matt and I don't take too many pictures of us together.  I'm working on doing that more.  I like this guy a whole lot.  There were quite a few people at the waterfall, but taking a selfie means we have to snuggle in close for us to both be in the picture.  Kate and Daniel wanted to play in the water but it was really cold.  They both dipped their hands in it and watched others, but then they were done.

 

Another snack stop on the way back down.

Kate was getting tired and Matt wanted to see if the hiking backpack would work for both kids so Kate got on the back.  She didn't love it, but it did work... for a few minutes anyway.

 

As we got towards the bottom of the trail, I noticed Kate as she kept stopping and looking at rocks and leaves.  I'm not sure what she was doing, but it was fun to watch her.  She had handfuls of rocks and dirt and would loose some every time she tried to get some more. I hope to teach her to enjoy the beauties of this world, to respect them, and to see God all around her.