June 2

Today was Friday, so it was another adventure day! Today we chose to go to Mastodon State Historic Site, where mastodon fossils were found. Caleb currently wants to be a marine paleontologist when he grows up, so this was right up his alley. We packed a lunch and headed out right after swim practice. (Daisy still only kickboarded. One of these days she will attempt to swim again!)

Our first stop was the museum, where we met a mastodon.

Don't let their faces fool you. The kids were fascinated.

Eli liked it, too!

Then we did some hiking! (Sorry this is so green - I'm too lazy to edit cell phone pictures. Also, it really was pretty green in the woods. Caleb was commenting on it.) Eli was on my back for the majority of our hike, but I let him down for this pic.

Lily held Eli's hand as they walked, and it was adorable. 

Also, she carried her baby Ludia the whole way.

Also, I told her before we left the house to choose shoes for hiking. She chose her silver Easter sandals.

The kids loved finding a cake left over from our city's birthday celebration a few years ago. Caleb is making his mastodon face. His arms are supposed to be tusks, obviously. 

Four kids on a cake!

Daisy on a cake. 

Lily and Eli on a cake.

And then we drove down to the picnic and creek area. This was definitely the highlight of the trip for the kids. 

It was just a wide, shallow, rocky creek with clear water. Perfect for playing, and lots of families enjoying it.

We only spent an hour at the creek, but we could have easily spend a whole day. We will have to go back again soon!

And then in the evening, Daisy and I attended her friend Hannah's birthday party. 

Daisy was so excited about the whole thing, and then she got there and got nervous. She clung to me and refused to do or say anything. It was just like the swimming situation, and it left me feeling really frustrated. The party was only an hour and a half long, and she was clingy and scared for the first hour. Eventually she warmed up and had a blast, but seriously. I have no idea how to parent this child.