The other evening my family went on a walk in the woods. We left to the sound of gunshots in our neighborhood and were truly thankful for the gentle old growth woods. My husband commented,"we are lucky in Washington, there are not to many things that are dangerous for the boys out here." He was comparing the NW forest to the poison oak we had seen all over the forest in California by San Rafael and the deer ticks that are rampant many parts of the year in Minnesota. Here we are able to basically give the boys free rein.
On this evening two and a half year old Theo was our guide. He chose the trails to follow. Mom, then grandma, then Sam and papa ran after him. Mom wanted to make sure that he did not get to any forks in the path and disappear.
This running, a bit hard on elders' knees, is a wonderfully gleeful activity for the boys. The boys run down the path: Exuding joyfulness.
They listen to the sound of a wooden bridge under their feet. Then run back and forth across it because there is a slight dip at either end of the bridge where they build momentum. Mama chases Sam back and forth. Back and forth. Papa and Theo have gone ahead. Theo's turn to ride in the backpack carrier and he is enjoying the view and bounce from up high.
Then there is another stop. Theo has found some sticks. Sam has found a place he calls his house. He gathers sticks too. There is drumming by both boys on a downed tree. Quite a while later we continue on the path, touching thimbleberry leaves and tapping sticks.
Going is slow. Sam stops to "read" the sign posts and comprehend the map.
Theo and papa have made it out of the forest and found a tree whose leaves have already fallen. They are throwing the leaves about- smiles big. It has been a grand hike.
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