Rock, Scissors, Paper

Over the weekend went to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. It was a perfect day. But Brad was in a weird mood. And the kids were having huge issues with mosquitoes and circling black flies. And I was frustrated with all of them. It's July, guys! And we are in the woods! And we are together! And it is freaking beautiful -- Come on!  But...we kept walking...(because we had to, our car was way back there...)

Exhibit A: Thea Belle demonstrates the general feel of our group at this point.

 

Then Deke and Atticus started playing rock, scissors, paper with rules that they made up themselves.

And everyone's spirits slowly changed...

Slowly but surely...

Then we found a new part of the arboretum by the children's learning center...

It involved water...

And pipes and valves and channels...

And the morning turned into gladness...

But wait, there's more!

A mud-pie making station. Really. Who do you think made the biggest mess and wanted to keep playing the longest? (hint: She is wearing a dress.)

And then we found this awesome oak tree with huts and mounds of large sticks and building materials for forts...

Beautiful herb and vegetable garden adjacent

 

**mmmmm**love**