Lauren went on her first real hike. We took the kids to Brett and my usual hike in Fremont Older Preserve. There is a big hill at the beginning of the hike, and Lauren took off running before we could stop her. Brett and I watched in horror as she got going faster and faster, then the inevitable belly flop fall. Of course there tears and bleeding (very mild), but we didn’t have any bandaids, so more tears. We figured her first hike would end after only 15 feet. Finally I got her distracted enough by offering snacks and playing I spy that we were able to resume the hike. She got really into it and loved fining new flowers birds and fallen trees. She walked most of it on her own and had a great time. Bennett was of course chill the entire time. He did enjoy the snacks. We hope it will be the first of many family hikes.

Lauren’s favorite thing was to spot the fallen trees. There we a lot of downed trees in an old oak grove. She ran from on the the next, shouted with pure glee, “there is another one!”