Picnic at Laura Walker

It has been a tradition for the kids and I to have a summer kick-off picnic (usually during Memorial day weekend).  It is always so nice to get out and enjoy time outside before it gets too far into summer (and unbearably hot).  This year the Murray girls and Quincy joined us for our picnic.  The menu consisted of PB&J sandwiches, chips, bananas, and granola bars.  We took a table by the playground.  It was so nice to be able to sit back and just watch as the kids played.  They are getting to an age now where this is a possibility.  The only one we had to really keep an eye on was Baby J.  There were several other families at the park enjoying the day.  Some were skiiing, jetskiing, or swimming in the lake.  I had never noticed the roped-off swimming area before, but others were using it.  The kids wanted to go check it out, so we took them down to the lake and let them put their feet in.  The big girls all did this, but Owen did not.  He took one look at the brown-tinged lake water and said "no thank-you".    

 Before leaving the park we decided to take a hike on the Laura Walker Lake Trail (1.5 miles round-trip).  The trial was nice, shaded, and ran parallel to the lake.  At the end of the trail we were rewarded with a platform that offered a view of the far (undeveloped) end of the lake.  The kids really liked hiking.  Ava kept talking about how "free" she felt to be out in the woods.  That tickled me- she's definitely going to be a little nature girl.  There is another trail in the park that is a little longer.  We may have to give that one a go next year.