Fresh Air and a Little Sun

Our winter has been cold and rainy. The few times it has snowed, we've had an inch or two that have melted before the end of the day. Finally, today, we had some sun and were able to head outside for a much needed walk.

We started at a playground with a few places to walk behind it. Rudy thought he would be able to climb all the way over this structure finally, but he struggled to figure out how to do it without going headfirst. I offered to demonstrate (and my lovely other-half took pictures).

After watching me make it over, Rudy still didn't feel confident enough to do it, so we headed out to walk.

 

 

Rudy actually stood and let me take this picture. When I showed him what it looked like...

 



 

 

...he chased Paul around the field a few times.

 



Rudy was determined to get up this tree. There were some perfectly placed vines to help him climb and pull himself up.

After several unsuccessful attempts, Paul demonstrated to Rudy the best way to do it (and his other-half took pictures).

After one more try (and a little boost from Paul), Rudy successfully made it into the tree.

 

 

There had been a few obstacles we encountered as we walked this path- branches and trees blocking it, but the biggest obstacle came when we got to the end. This downed tree was covering the whole path. Paul and I found ways to go around it, but Rudy crawled through it.

 

 



After conquering the tree and path (and earning "Ninja badges" as we went along), Rudy decided to try one more time to cross the purple structure. This time he was successful.

Bald Eagles

On Saturday we went to an Eagle Festival in a local county. This area has several bald eagle nests that are active and there are hikes with guides and viewing sites with scopes set up. We went last year and really enjoyed it, so we headed out again this year. Rudy started out the hike as expected, walking back and forth through a puddle.

Then he climbed over the guardrail that everyone else walked around.

He ran ahead of the guide or walked right next to the guide for the first half of the walk. After the guide pointed out walnuts on the ground, Rudy went around collecting them and then throwing them.

 

Across the water was a nest, and the guide led us out through the marshes some to get a better view. Rudy was right behind him.

The biggest hit last year and this year is the owl pellets. Under an owl house are regurgitated animal bones. Rudy had fun cleaning them off and trying to figure out what kind of bone they were.

He showed them off to our friend, Paul. (Yes, we had two Pauls today, so when talking to me Rudy would refer to them as "Paul Paul" and "Dad Paul.")

I decided today that Rudy's mantra must be what Robert Frost said,
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,"
Anytime he could he traveled off the path and explored. He is definitely a "road...less traveled" kind of kid.

After running and being at the front on the way out on the hike, we were all the way at the end on the way back.

Early February Fun

Rudy receive a gingerbread house kit for Christmas, but we never got around to doing it. Friday afternoon, we needed something to do, and Rudy reminded me we hadn't made this yet.
Fortunately (for me) after one slight attempt to squeeze the icing, Rudy decided he just wanted to decorate and I could add all the icing (this was fortunate because I didn't have to clean a big mess later!).

Once we had the house all together, it was time to decorate. Rudy had fun with this part. His organizational skills came out after decorating one side of the roof in a random order and then deciding the other side had to match the first.

The finished product.

Sunday afternoon we decided to go out and get some fresh air. We headed to the Wildlife Refuge and walked a few short trails. We saw some animal tracks that we weren't able to identify, but never saw any real animals.

In this picture you can just barely see the rainbow that circled the sun.

Rudy hadn't been very active on our walks- usually he runs ahead of us. As we were leaving, I found out that friends of ours were at a playground, so we decided to go there so Rudy could get a little more energy out.

Paul managed to get himself in a snowball fight with the four boys.

Rudy trying to escape snowballs from Will by climbing up the equipment.

Rudy and Jared making plans.

Rudy eating  snow while Will gets ready to attack.

Rudy trying to get away from the snowballs again.

Jared climbing the equipment.

Will, Rudy, and Paul snowballing.

Nathan trying for a sneak attack from above.

You can't see Nathan very well but he was collecting snow to throw at Paul while Paul prepares to retaliate.

Paul aiming.

Nathan getting Paul while Dakota looks longingly on.