We go up and out early this morning to join some people from our church to volunteer to clean up at the Wildlife Refuge. It was cold in the morning but there was a bright sun and the promise of a warmer day. Rudy was very excited to get there and get all his gear. He especially liked using the grabber.
Once the day started we headed out to the drive to find a spot to pick up trash. It was a gorgeous day, a little windy out on the drive but very tolerable. We have gone on the drive many times before but this was the first time we walked through the bushes and down to the water's edge, so we got to see a different side of the refuge.
Rudy had a blast! He carried the grabber the whole time (although he barely used it) and looked for signs of dinosaurs. Every crab shell or animal bone we'd find would be part of a dinosaur. It was such an adventure! This picture is taken at the very end of our clean up. We had been outside walking and driving for about an hour to an hour and a half and Rudy could have gone on much longer!
After dinner tonight, we headed to a haunted hayride. We met up wit friends, who both have daughters around Rudy's age. It was the first real scary hayride for the three kids and they all survived and hopefully weren't too scarred! All day Rudy talked about going to the scary hayride; he was so excited. I guess we should have warned him that it might involve people jumping out at us and even climbing /leaning on the wagon we were on. That was definitely the part that scared him the most.
As we waited for the hayride the kids played on the playground. Jade (6 years old) and Sanai ( 4 years old) insisted they had to be pushed on the baby swings.
Jah-neen, Sanai, and Jade heading to the hayride.
As we waited to buy tickets, there was someone dressed up as the grim reaper who was pointing the way to the hayride. Jade was fearless and would go right up to him.
Rudy and Sanai were a bit more reluctant.
A rare still moment with all three kids together.
Playing with the glow sticks and waiting for the hayride, what better use than as swords!
On the hayride and ready to go!
See Paul's face - you can tell that Rudy's expression and mannerisms have changed after the first person jumped out of the woods at us. Later he told us he expected to see scary things hanging from the trees and making scary noises.
Unsure of what he has gotten himself into.
Jade, Tori and Ronnie with some scary guys behind them.
Still not so sure.
Recovered and ready to enjoy the ride again. Once he got used to people jumping out and we started looking and trying to spot them as they came, he was okay. It seemed to be the surprise of it that scared him more than the costumes. I told him a few times to yell 'boo' back at them when they scared him and he stated saying things back to them when they did try to scare us.
As soon as we were off the ride he was full of bravery and told everyone about how he wasn't scared. I think the first time was a success and we will have to try it again next year!
Once the day started we headed out to the drive to find a spot to pick up trash. It was a gorgeous day, a little windy out on the drive but very tolerable. We have gone on the drive many times before but this was the first time we walked through the bushes and down to the water's edge, so we got to see a different side of the refuge.
Rudy had a blast! He carried the grabber the whole time (although he barely used it) and looked for signs of dinosaurs. Every crab shell or animal bone we'd find would be part of a dinosaur. It was such an adventure! This picture is taken at the very end of our clean up. We had been outside walking and driving for about an hour to an hour and a half and Rudy could have gone on much longer!
After dinner tonight, we headed to a haunted hayride. We met up wit friends, who both have daughters around Rudy's age. It was the first real scary hayride for the three kids and they all survived and hopefully weren't too scarred! All day Rudy talked about going to the scary hayride; he was so excited. I guess we should have warned him that it might involve people jumping out at us and even climbing /leaning on the wagon we were on. That was definitely the part that scared him the most.
As we waited for the hayride the kids played on the playground. Jade (6 years old) and Sanai ( 4 years old) insisted they had to be pushed on the baby swings.
Jah-neen, Sanai, and Jade heading to the hayride.
As we waited to buy tickets, there was someone dressed up as the grim reaper who was pointing the way to the hayride. Jade was fearless and would go right up to him.
Rudy and Sanai were a bit more reluctant.
A rare still moment with all three kids together.
Playing with the glow sticks and waiting for the hayride, what better use than as swords!
On the hayride and ready to go!
See Paul's face - you can tell that Rudy's expression and mannerisms have changed after the first person jumped out of the woods at us. Later he told us he expected to see scary things hanging from the trees and making scary noises.
Unsure of what he has gotten himself into.
Jade, Tori and Ronnie with some scary guys behind them.
Still not so sure.
Recovered and ready to enjoy the ride again. Once he got used to people jumping out and we started looking and trying to spot them as they came, he was okay. It seemed to be the surprise of it that scared him more than the costumes. I told him a few times to yell 'boo' back at them when they scared him and he stated saying things back to them when they did try to scare us.
As soon as we were off the ride he was full of bravery and told everyone about how he wasn't scared. I think the first time was a success and we will have to try it again next year!
