Arborteum Exploring

For a few weeks now, I have promised the kiddos next door that we would all go to the arboretum so they too could join us on adventures of finding turkey tracks and watching birds and all the other excitement that goes with walking around in the woods in the dead of winter.  Today, we finally all got to go and do it!  The van filled quickly with 6 snugly bodies and we were off.

Storytime!  Preadventures - all the explorers getting ready for the adventure by an exuberant reading of Strega Nona.

  In the car, they were given the run down of how, once we are out of the van, we are no longer kids but explorers.  Explorers don't scream, they stay semi-close by, and use everything the correct way (ie binoculars are for looking at birds, not for swinging to hit the nearest explorer with).  But, being explorers, everyone already knew this.  We all got our snow gear on because there was a fresh layer of snow we would have to trudge through.  Unfortunately, one of the explorers did not have a jacket....hhhmmm...the lead of this expedition definitely lost some demerit points for that one.  Thankfully, one of the older explorers shared his jacket with the littlest one.

Squeaker's snowmobile and borrowed winter gear.

The best part about a large exploring party is that the work of corralling the smaller explorers can be spread out!  Everyone was eager to do their part pulling the smallest explorer along, even if that excitement lasted for a few seconds.  There was always another explorer ready to grab the reins of her sled and pull.

This is no small feat to pull her along,
there was some deep snow to go through.

Have you ever seen such lovely snowbunny explorers?

The wiser explorers also helped reminding the more amateur explorers that yelling and screaming had a tendency to scare off the birds, even if their new finding or discovery in the woods was just so darn exciting that it seemed like it required yelling to share, it probably would be better to just whisper it loudly.  I am not quite sure that our youngest explorers have yet found their whispering voice, so there were lots of reminders. Good thing we still spotted a few birds:)

Look at the dedication of that one in the background, on her knees to see the bird!  Thank goodness for snow pants!

Are those the turkeys we have been tracking?!?!?

Aaahhh there is one of the elusive turkeys....

 


















Overall, another successful trip to the arboretum; we spotted 2 hawks and a flock of turkeys moving very fast through the snow covered prairie.  We had the great joy of having new explorers with us who hopefully will come back again with us for other adventures.  Best part of all is the heavy-duty sleeping that certain explorers are about to enjoy right now.

Great fun had by all:)