Thursday, June 12th (again)

Thursday we went to the Spring Valley Nature Center and while there we were able to see the Volkening Heritage Farm. It is a farm that shows what it was like back in the 1880's. The barn was made with all wood, no nails. There is no running water...it was pretty neat. Anyway, we were able to see different animals. The kids didn't think very highly of being up close and personal with the horses. I didn't think very highly of them blowing snot all over my new stroller! Ada Grace did warm up to them after a little while.
Ethan was not going to let me go until we got out of that barn! He was so scared. After we took this picture he looked over my shoulder to see if the horse was still there and just started screaming. However, on behalf of Aunt Wendy I better tell THE REST OF THE STORY. When we first walked into the barn two of the horses decided to start a little fight, trying to bite each other and all. It did make an adult a little nervous...but Ethan doesn't like any non-human thing that moves anyway.
In the middle of of one of the trails was this rather large field of peony's. They are not one of my favorite flowers (mostly because of the ant issue) but to see this many of them in all different colors was beautiful. Jason snapped this picture of wonderful Aunt Wendy and I.
Next we saw the turtles. ETHAN LOVED THEM! Ada Grace warmed up to them after a bit. My favorite was that they were inside and air conditioned building!
Ethan actually reached out and touched one of the turtles shells. Notice Ada Grace isn't leaving Daddy's side!
I just really think this picture is great!
He studied them for a long time and really seemed to enjoy the turtles.

On our hike back to the car Jason was pushing the stroller in front of us and Aunt Wendy and myself were walking behind him. All of a sudden Wendy and I were being dive bombed by a bird. It was kind of comical because the three adults were just telling the kids with the horses that they were just animals and there was nothing to be afraid of. You should have heard the screams coming out of our mouths...I am sure the kids were thinking, "yeah right mom, nothing to be afraid of!"

BEST PART OF THE SPRING VALLEY NATURE CENTER...IT WAS FREE!