10.9.11: First Hike

(left to right: kelly, kari, brant, rob, fiona, daphne, stella)

Oddly, our weather was extremely mild while Kelly and Rob were here. We were finally able to go on our first hike. Of course the girls didn't walk on this hike (we actually wanted to see the mountains). While hiking/strolling we even found a small river with fish! With the unexpected fish siting, we needed something to feed the fish so the girls could see them move around. The only food on hand was the snack that the girls were eating...so now the girls think that all fish eat waffles. Oops.

We also got to play outside and spent hours covering the driveway in chalk. Eventually I will have to hose off the driveway or the same chalk drawings will be around until the girls are ten, okay maybe just for months due to the lack of rain.

Brant and I took the opportunity to do a bit of yard work while the girls were napping. Then the excitement happened. Brant found a baby rattlesnake in the cactus right next to our driveway (can you see it in the picture below?). Yikes, that was not what we were expecting. Thankfully our fire service removes poisonous animals immediately, so the whole scenario was quickly resolved. I guess we really do live in 'nature' these days. This of course all happened just one day after we found a scorpion in our house - ahhh nature.



Since then we have been heavy into cleaning up our yard and getting rid of any cactus that animals can hide in. With my shovel in hand, I am now known as the 'cactus destroyer' (perhaps just to myself). For now the yard will be a little barren, but that is much better than snake ridden.