forests for play

We had anticipated rain....
so we raked up leaves all week long~ because raking up wet leaves... is well, a sticky messy situation.  Saturday we waited for the rain....
the kids started climbing walls...
and bounced up and said "lets get outta here!"
grabbed our coats,
our shoes,
and walked outside towards the forest.

One of the great things about where we live is the nature parks that surround us.  They have paths to walk that are well visible and maintained, yet still preserving the green and habitat that live here in the Pacific Northwest.  Our Parks and Rec prides itself on preservation....a new addition to our nature parks are called Nature Play Spaces...specifically marked spaces where you are encouraged to climb, explore, build, create and just play "play in nature".  These spaces are naturally cleared of poison oaks and stuff.... but the idea is these big forested spaces to just run a muck, and be a kid!

This was our first time finding one of these spaces....

and our "get out of the house walk" turned into "lets play for hours until the sun goes down".

One child (you can tell from the pictures) was not as thrilled to be there when we arrived, but by the end of the day he was the hardest one to get back into the car.  I would say that Saturday was a day that I will remember for a long time.  I love it here!