You Pack It In - You Pack It Out!

When we woke up this morning and saw the sun streaming through our windows, we knew it was field trip day! We're studying Zoology this year (beginning with flying creatures), and Theler Wetlands is the perfect place for a nature walk....and walk....and walk.

I didn't notice that it was a one-way hike until we reached the end of the trail. Anthony was all, "Well, yeah. Didn't you look on the map at the beginning of the trail?"

No, I was too entranced with the beautiful entrance gate and lovely naturalistic landscaping at the trailhead. Moms get distracted by that sort of thing.


Lovely estuary - views of the hood canal! You're right on the water the whole time. And we saw tons of birds! I'll be back in the spring, and I expect to see myriads of ducklings from all of those Mallards! We also saw a couple great blue heron, a wood pecker (not one tree away from us! Pecking its little heart out! I took a picture of its stomping grounds), and I finally saw a Kingfisher swoop down after a fish! What alerted me? It's distinctive call, of course. Tony will be so proud!


We crossed so many things off of our nature scavenger hunt, but I really wished I had brought a stroller. It was totally stroller friendly, and half-way through the hike, my Cozette-holding arm was feeling the burn and James was sitting down to draw pictures in the gravel. I coaxed him along with blackberries that we weren't supposed to be picking, and Anthony gave him a few rides.

The funniest parts of our outing:

1. BooBoo insisting that these were dragon bones.


2. This sign. I can just picture myself posing for it.


3. Jonny being so sweet as to tell an elderly gentleman (out for a walk - minding his own buisness) that there was a "potty right over there, if he needed to use it." So considerate.


I can't wait to go back...with a stroller....once I can feel my arm again!