Doing 'Stuff' Together

As long as Little Man was old enough to begin eating table food, we started a tradition of eating Saturday morning breakfast together.  It's the only time during the week where all four of us sit down and have breakfast at the same time.  As Little Miss is getting older, we've decided to add to the tradition.  We're adding a Saturday after breakfast activity to enjoy these warmer days.

Our main goal is giving the kids new experiences in activities they would enjoy.  We also like to keep these kids moving.  We want to wear these kids out!!!  We've got a strategy here folks.  If we wear the kids out enough, they'll take extra long naps, and then Steven and I have more time together without kids.  We're pretty selfish, and we like it that way ;)

Really, that's not the case.

Our first outing of the Spring season was a hike through Redbud Valley Nature Preserve.  It was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!  The hike around the main trail is only a mile, so being the show-offs we are, we opted for the challenging bluff hike.  The kids were rock stars (no pun intended) climbing up all the boulders and investigating the little caves.  Eventually, we had to turn around on the bluff hike because the trail was so narrow it was no longer safe for Little Miss' daring adventures.  Little Man is a bit more cautious.  After descending the bluff, we took to the loser main trail.  Kidding.  It was just as cool!  We all really enjoyed our time outdoors together and look forward to our next adventures.

{You can click on the picture to view it larger}

Here's our next ideas of little and big outings...

• Visit Tahlequah during the Red Fern Festival (April 29-30).  Afterward, we plan on finding that little place my friends and I used to go to near the Illinois River to tan our pale, pale skin so the kids can get their little toes wet and enjoy the river scenery.  Then hitting up the best pizza joint ever for dinner...Sam & Ella's. For older kids visit the Tsa La Gi Cherokee Indian Village.  I cannot wait for our kids to be old enough to go.  One of the coolest places I have ever been.  EVER.
• Woo-la-roc in Bartlesville to see all they have to offer, but be sure to check out the Mountain Man Camp as you are pulling in (running now through Labor Day).  A-MA-ZING!  Then a quick bite at Dinks BBQ (Thanks J & S for teaching us about that little nugget).
• Riverside...riding bikes, playing at the parks, picnics.  My kind of perfect day.
• Woodward Park for squirrel watching, walking through the gardens, playing in the mini-waterfall (it's what Little Man calls it), and a picnic.
• Oxley Nature Center.  The kids love looking for animal tracks and finding food sources for animals.

I'm sure as we go along on our little adventures we'll have more and more to add to the list, but right now it's all we got fer yoo. 

Be sure to check back here tomorrow.  I've got a story that I think you're going to like.  Someone reminded me the other day of a time that involved me, a gym, and a man in a blue semi thong thingymajig.  No, I'm not lying!  See you tomorrow!