Bucket List # 6- Take a Hike

 Mr. J... always in the rear.  He's one that stops and really studies things. He thinks so much and walks with his head down just like his daddy.  He can be highly motivated to get moving when he is promised to be the hiking/camp chef.  If it involves food, not just eating it, but preparing it, he pick up the pace. =)

 I loved how Mr. S and Mr. A were hiking buddies.  And can I just say that my big Boy Scout, Mr. A was leaving us in the dust.  He's gonna need it for the hiking he'll do in Boy Scouts.

 Looking out over the reservoir.  Cherry Creek Reservoir is nestled in the midst of the Denver Metro area.  If you don't look too far out into the horizon you really do feel like you have left the city.  You can camp there too.  Though I am a little too snobby to camp in the city!  I can camp in my back yard for free and for nearly $20 a night for camp tenting... I would rather pay that up at Rocky Mountain National Park.  But if your a newbie to camping... it would do well for you. Warm showers and vending machines an all.  It is our favorite swimming spot.  For the cost of a state parks pass... we can swim all summer long. Which a great deal for a family of 6.  Well any size really.  And we can go to any Colorado State Park with it.  Its been used twice in the last 2 weeks. 

Ah... the first hike of the summer.  We managed to do about a 2 mile hike.  I am certain that we would have done a bit more if we hadn't run into water.  Remind me not to take the family to Cherry Creek Reservoir to hike.  They have it firm in their mind that it is a place for swimming... only.  So we ventured to another side of the park (with some grumbling about swimming) to get the hiking on!  I don't think we even made it a mile before the trail dumped us on the bed of a slow moving stream and before I could say, "Leave No Trace..."  the shoes flew off and the kids were making their way into the water.  And for such a warm day thy were very happy to jump in!  I tried in my best way possible to help the to kids move to the swim beach.  Its a good thing that even though we weren't prepared for swimming, mom keeps a stash of clothes and snacks in the car.  Perfect for the impromptu swim, even if your a girl who had to squeeze into her little brother's clothes.  Yeah... the minivan is a little better stocked now.  Even mom needed some back ups in there! So we went in. Clothes and all.
The day was filled with sand, scat, flowers, weeds, and sea shells.  All of it "sprinkled" with a healthy dose of water!  Yes... we will be back to our favorite "swimming hole" all summer long.  Hopefully a little better prepared.

Cherry Creek Reservoir, Aurora CO- The Work of Play

Today we took our weekly day off to do something out of the ordinary. We joined some friends at Cherry Creek Reservoir and spent the day in the sun and sand. This reservoir is about 10 miles from home and is a Colorado State Park within the middle of our Metropolis. This is one thing I LOVE about Colorado and even the Denver Metro Area. We are just not lacking for natural areas within the metro area. How cool that tucked behind the Denver Tech Center is a refuge for the people. A place to swim, a place to camp, a place to hike. We have camped here a few times, but in a camping family like ours, it is considered wimpy camping and when we need to keep it close, it is a great place to take the Scouts. And in an economy such as this and having four kids, the $9 pass to get in is the cheapest I can take my kids swimming, aside from mooching off a friend who happens to have a pool in a HOA. Even better is the cost of a season pass, $63 here in CO and I can go to any state park in the state. And a continual place to swim. LOVE IT!

But today rather than seeking out the nature around we enjoyed just being in the out of doors and letting the work of play infuse the minds of my four. I had a hard time dragging them away after the hours of sun.

Using pails to fill and dump water.

Having a great time.

Digging, building, molding and watching the effects of dumping large quantity of water via the big green tub behind him.
Then doing it in a way a girl would want to when it doesn't work out with your brothers.

There is nothing like the beach to get your hands into the earth and get down and dirty with the water so near to cool and clean you off.

The collaboration of brothers.

Biggest brother hoping the youngers will listen.

A day to float and play your cares away. Let play do the work it does in the life of a child. I am so thankful that homeschooling is such that it leaves ample time for play in their lives. That if we do the way it should be done, their evenings and even afternoons are free to do the work of play.