Exploring our surroundings

Now that the warm days are numbered and winter is just around the corner, I have been trying to take the kids outside every chance we get. I am also trying to learn my way around without the GPS, so I take little road trips to see what I can find.

Today we found the most beautiful lake with trees that were in color. The kids had a blast throwing leaves in the water and making them float like little boats. Rocks and twigs were also fun. The beauty of the place was breathtaking...so please forgive me for sharing more 'fall foliage' photos. There is just something about the beauty of God's creation that feeds the soul.














This was the view from the 'beach' when we looked back at the road we had driven in on.

Within the first five minutes, Jake had managed to step slightly into the lake--enough to get the bottom of his shoes wet. I explained to him that it was too cold to take shoes and socks off to get wet and that he needed to stay OUT of the water. I might as well have asked him not to breathe.

He did well for about 10 minutes and then...


He may have forgotten, but since it seemed like disobedience, I told him that he had to sit out and could not play anymore. He was sad...and he watched the kids play, which I thought would be torture. But you know...Jake just can't be kept down for long. After a few minutes, he seemed resigned to his fate and began to amuse himself with nothing.





And then...he had to go potty. I was having fun taking pictures and since I had taken him potty in the woods several times, I figured he could handle this little chore by himself.

Or not.

He disappeared into the woods and SaraGrace soon followed him. A few seconds later she announced triumphantly that, 'Jake peed on himself! And all over him's hands!"

Aw man....

I went over to survey the damage and it became apparent that Jake, while successful in taking his pants down, had forgotten (?) that one needs to remove one's underwear before going potty. It was also apparent that his um...you know...thingy...was stuck in the upright position in his underwear because the front of his shirt was soaked. Like this...

He seems unperturbed.

So the big question is: "Did ANY of the wee-wee end up in the grass?!" I'm thinkin' not.

The good thing is that the back of his pants were dry, so he was able to wear them home. I had been thinking that he would have to sit buck naked in his carseat--except for his socks, which were strangely dry--all the way home. I could just imagine being stopped for speeding or something and having the cop look in the back seat to see a little naked baby strapped into a carseat. Sheesh...