Labor Day Hike

The Lewis' hit the trail before 8am for some outdoor enjoyment.  The hike is off Grandview Drive in Peoria - same one they did on Labor Day 2 years ago.

 Anxious to go!

 J even was pointing out things to us!

 finding bugs to collect and identify and examine

 our lookout spot - using our binnoculars we were watching birds in the distance (Hairy Woodpecker and others) and enjoyed a little snack - having hiked 45 min

The view back to Peoria Heights

The whole crew!

Hummingbirds Up Close

Hummingbird day at Forest Park Nature Center!

 they'd capture them and band them, but before releasing them people could feel their heartbeats (A, E, mom and dad did)

 then one person would get to hold them to let them go - amazingly they stayed there for quite awhile before being gone in a blink!

 A got her face painted with a hummingbird

and E her arm - so little it was a real challenge for the artist!

Toad Town

A found a toad in the backyard and caught it!

 loved that it tickled her hands, thought it was so fun and wanted to keep it as a pet.

 Mom helped find something to keep him in, but commented it was temporary.  She held on for a couple days until she realized he wasn't eating - the dead fly she put in wasn't appealing, so she sadly let him go

A week or so later daddy was mowing the lawn and was finding toads as he approached - A caught them and put them in the water table - good place!

 And she played with them....and let them "climb" up her arm and then her pony tail! Not creeped out at all! Shocking both her parents!

11 total caught - the next day she let them all go again

UPDATE: this weekend the same scenario, only the toads were a little bigger (likely the same ones) and she caught 14! Daddy let them go this time when he saw some birds hovering over the table.....fears a few may have been picked off  =(

How to Fell a Tree Lewis Style

It was inevitable after 2 years that the large pine tree wasn't just in a phase, it was dying and needed to be cut down. J inquired of some friends for a chainsaw thinking T would enjoy the use of such a tool and make the project a bit enticing. Instead T felt that a chainsaw would make it too easy.  Instead he'd rather use his trusty "jab-saw."  (reciprocating saw)

 Can't find protective goggles? B suggested dad use his welding shield....

 an idea of how big this pine was that was coming down

 After loping off the back half of branches, make a big notch in the trunk

 again, using the "jab-saw"

Then let mom tug on the rope a few times - voila!  The kids were so impressed!

Looking Like a Good Start!

The garden has a fence and looks great!  Thanks to Terra Products for the left over pieces!  Now it just needs to grow nicely to fit the look.