Forest Preserve Fun

One of the things I like best about summer is all of the walking we get to do, at least when it isn't 100 degrees out. When there is a beautiful evening, there's nothing I like more than visiting a local forest preserve for a leisurely stroll. Or for a wild chase of two boys running in opposite directions, but that's all part of the fun.

Last week we were having a rough day, behavior-wise, with the boys, so we decided to take a picnic out to Rock Run Forest Preserve in Shorewood. Picnics mean no mess (at least not in the kitchen), novelty, and very tired children, due to all the running around at the park.

Greg made a simple pasta and sausage dish with bread and butter. We had chocolate pizzelle cookies for dessert. Very yummy. Then we had to walk off all of the carbs.

When you go to the forest preserve, it isn't necessary to bring toys. Children will find natural things to play with, like flowers and sticks and rocks. Henry tries to eat all of the natural things he finds.

Nick had questions about every little piece of debris he found in the forest. He loved watching the bugs, birds, and butterflies.

Henry has been learning from Nick how to pretend to have light saber fights. Can you tell?

Henry actually walked quite a bit, considering the size of his tiny little legs. Nick ended up walking almost the entire 3 or 4 miles. Both boys were asleep almost immediately when we got home.

I think that time spent outside is incredibly important for young kids. I'm hoping that our temperatures fall out of the 90s soon so that we can go to another forest preserve.