Glorious Fall at Eagle Creek

We took a break from all the household chores that love to ensnare us on the weekend, and went on a fall hike.  You just have to put it on the calendar sometimes, like you would a doctor appointment, or it simply won't ever happen!  

This is the time of year I wish would last for at least six months but, alas, it's over all too quickly.  We are lucky to get three weeks of it!  So we try to savor what we can.

It was a three mile hike and so we had to bribe the kids with hot chocolate (mochas for the adults) and chewy ginger cookies.  It worked!  They made it!

Happy Autumn!

Meandering at the Zoo

One of the best things about getting a zoo pass is that you “have to” go so you get your money’s worth!  And you don’t have to see everything in one day, of course, because you’ll be back soon.

Yesterday we went to the zoo.  We had been studying really, really hard and I felt the kids deserved something fun in their life as a reward for all their hard work.  (I'm a Work Hard, Play Hard kind of person.)  We were out running an errand and decided at the last minute to go go the zoo.  

I let the kids each pick one thing to see.  We meandered lazily, spending a long time watching the flamingos stomp in the mud with their webbed feet and use their beaks to filter food they found in the mud.  It was actually very interesting to spend a chunk of time observing the flamingo.  This is the type of thing that never happens when you're in a hurry to "see it all."  

Summer Fun Jar

We are really into having fun around here.  I like to think that we work hard, and we play hard.

The summer days are flying by as fast as a wet kid on a slip 'n' slide.  So we decided to institute a Summer Fun Jar. We like to bike and swim and do summer reading, VBS, and the $1 movies, and we try to bike to the summer concerts in our village every Wednesday, but I thought that one "extra" fun thing every week would help create some lasting memories.  Also, there are some things, like exploring nature, that I want to do more of and if we aren't intentional, it never happens.  

And here's another thing ... my first-born child is turning nine next month.  Nine!  That's halfway until she leaves for college (most likely).  That's halfway to grown-up.  Talk about the days flying by ... it's the years that are flying by too!!  I guess I am realizing that if you don't seize the moments, they will be gone all too quickly and you won't have opportunities to do these kinds of things.  The dust bunnies can wait.  They will still be there when Meredith leaves for college.  

Every Monday the kids get to pick one fun thing from the jar.  They love the surprise element involved.

The things listed below are just some fun things I came up with one night while sitting at my computer.  I'd love to hear any other ideas that you all have.  I have a feeling we will modify this list every year and the Fun Jar will become an old friend who makes an appearance every summer!

Here's my list:

Sometime this week … go on a hike at the Lion’s Park nature loop.  Bring your water shoes so you can go creek stomping if you want to!  Bring a Ziploc bag to collect some treasures from nature. 

Sometime this week … go on a hike at Holliday park.  Before the hike, go to the nature center and get the scavenger hunt pages to fill out.  Bring a picnic lunch.  Make sure that you slide down every slide they have.  (There are 17 slides!) 

Sometime this week … take a vote on what your favorite park is.  If you can’t decide, draw numbers and whoever gets the highest number gets to pick the park.  Take a picnic to the park and play. 

Sometime this week … ride bikes to the splash park at Mulberry Fields.  Eat ice cream when you get home to cool off. 

Sometime this week … go to the Indianapolis Zoo.  Make sure you see the new orangutan exhibit. 

Sometime this week … go to the Indianapolis Zoo.  If it’s hot, bring your swim suits and get wet at the splash park. 

Sometime this week … go to Eagle Creek Park.  Take a hike and visit the nature center and ornithology center.   Take a picnic to our favorite cove by the lake.  See if the beach is open.  If it is, visit the beach. This might take you all day long!

Sometime this week … gather two different objects from around the house and then get some flowers from outside, and paint all of these things.  Pick your favorite painting and hang it on the fridge. 

Sometime this week … it’s Meredith’s turn to pick something she wants to learn how to cook and make it for dinner with mom.  Sophia and Clara can pick out a dessert to make with mom. 

Sometime this week … it’s Clara’s turn to pick something she wants to learn how to cook and make it for dinner with mom.  Sophia and Meredith can pick out a dessert to make with mom. 

Sometime this week … ride bikes to Dairy Queen and get a chocolate dipped cone. 

Sometime this week … make something paper mache together, or research another fun craft idea on Pinterest.

Sometime this week … make a fancy cake and some invitations and have a tea party.  Invite some friends to join us.

Sometime this week … visit the IMA. Look for a painting you really love and tell why.  Make your own art in the Star Gallery.

Sometime this week … go downtown and have lunch with dad.  Visit the central library and pick out some fun and interesting books.

Sometime this week … have a sleepover on the living room floor with your parents (well, at least your mom …).

Sometime this week … go to the Monon Center and ride all the water slides.  Invite some friends to meet us there.

Sometime this week … head to the roller skating rink for a family fun night. 

Sometime this week … take a vote (dad is the tie-breaker): should we go mini-golfing or bowling? 

Art Museum Gardens in the Spring

We love the Indianapolis Museum of Art grounds in the spring!  Soooooo beautiful.  We hit it right at the peak this year, I think. 

Local Tourists

After being "good," and reorganizing our house after Christmas, we decided to play the tourist and take a trek to Columbus, Indiana, just about an hour south of us, to visit the cute and quaint Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor, which is decked out for Christmas every year. The kids ordered their homemade "green river" soda pop. We also refer to it as alien blood. 

Zaharakos has several antique player organs which were belting out joyous Christmas music while we ate. 

Visiting their soda fountain is like taking a step back in time.

Sundaes were a treat and very messy.

 

I loved this "Don't Care" flavor.  Nowadays we have Starbucks; at the turn of the century they had soda fountains.  It was fun to think about this part of long-ago culture.

Across from Zaharakos is an indoor playground (city park).  I think it's brilliant for a city with freezing temps every winter to offer such an amazing and expansive indoor park.  More cities here in the midwest should do this!

We decided to swing by the visitor's center and buy a map to take the architectural tour in Columbus.  Apparently this little town (less than 45,000 population) is number six in the nation for famous architecture.

The first stop was the Irwin-Miller mansion. 

 

Apparently, according to local legend, this is where corn flakes were invented.  Kevin thinks I'm crazy for buying into all this stuff hook, line, and sinker. :)

After our little jaunt to Columbus, we meet Kevin's parents for Christmas at the Zoo.  It was decent weather so half the city was there.  But we love it.  The lights are amazing. 

We enjoyed being tourists for a day!