Back to the Stream

After doing our photo shoot last week and rediscovering the stream in the woods, the children asked to return there to play in the stream. The weather was perfect for water play, so Kara and I took them back. The stream is right behind a school playground, so it was a doubly fun trip for the kids. The older three took their shoes off and splashed in the water. Lincoln asked to join them. Evan wanted to at first, but once his feet hit the cold water he was finished. Jake fell in at one point and was sufficiently traumatized that he quit playing in the stream. Bentley and Lincoln bonded over throwing rocks in the water. Viva gave her feet a mud bath. It was a delightful time.

A couple of days later I asked the trio if they wanted to help me pick berries by the stream. I had seen a few currants while we were there the first time. They were eager to go berry picking and spend some more time splashing in the stream. Kara came along again since the younger two wanted to come and that meant two adults--one to supervise the water play and one to supervise Evan on the playground.

Bentley, Jake, Viva, and Lincoln helped me look for currants. We found a few good bushes, but not vast quantities. The kids had a good time, but we weren't properly dressed for scavenging in the woods amongst the devil's club (very thorny!) and cow parsnip (can cause severe burns). The kids were dressed in shorts and sandals in preparation for their stream splashing.

We spent a good half hour tracking down a pint of currants and then we went to the stream. Bentley, Jake, Viva, and Lincoln climbed on the big rocks and had fun...for a while. Then Jake slipped and got wet and was very disturbed over it. I'm not sure why the boy thought he could play in a stream without getting wet?! Once again he quit the stream and moved over to the playground. 

As on our previous visit Bentley and Lincoln spent their entire time in the stream throwing rocks. Lincoln tried to pick up rocks half his size! Viva took her shoes off, squished her toes in the mud, and then wandered the stream. I had to keep warning Bentley and Lincoln to not throw rocks near their sister. After a while I coaxed them out of the stream. They moved over to the playground and had a grand time playing Monster Tag. It was nice to be outside in the evening sunshine watching the children play. 

Matt had joined us at the playground and he and Evan hung out together. Evan is very entertaining to watch on a playground. He's a crazy little boy as he climbs, dives, and swings through the equipment.