Trail Day - Difficult Run

I was so pleased to discover that a decent-sized section of a trail along Difficult Run (a creek/stream/"run" off the Potomac) is located about 5 minutes from my house. So lovely! My visiting teacher lives up the street from it, and she and her baby joined us for Trail Day one Thursday, after I told her I was always looking for new nearby trails. We hiked along in our matching Ergos. She got to check off her visiting teaching and I got a buddy on the trail. It was awesome. (I love to hike but get nervous hiking alone with the kids on the more secluded neighborhood wooded trails. So, I don't do it unless I have a buddy.)

My favorite thing about these two photos is the change in Lars. Here he is near the beginning of our hike, happy to be squeezed between brother and sister for a photo op.

Here, near the end of the hour, not so much.

Ida has lots of cute clothes but often she prefers to wear Theo's shorts, in this case some gross baggy cargo shorts. I sure love that girl.

There are SO many hidden trails like this all over Northern Virginia. I know I sound gushy but I just can't believe how much stuff has been right under my nose all these years. I guess I just needed to be ready to seek it out. 3 months at home with my particular brood necessitated getting out...a lot. I will never forget this summer. I hope I keep it up every summer. Maybe not as intensely since there will be things like swim team and vacations and projects and whatever else happens in future summers. (But there also won't be things like naps and diapers.) The theme-day style totally worked for me and made it manageable. At times the summer has DRAGGED but really. Two more weeks! And..."no regrets."

(Tim Riggins)

Finally, this was the path that led to the trailhead from the street. Along a horse pasture. Kind of smelly, but pretty. Kinda like my kids. Thank you very much, good night everybody!