The Living Room

We wanted to hike "The Living Room", as it's known to locals. It's known as "The Living Room" because over the years people have arranged the rocks to look like furniture, down to a remote control resting on the coffee table. My friend warned me that it was tricky to find the trail head. She gave me directions and we loaded up.

But the thing about hiking with kids, is that it takes a bit more work...always. And so we packed up our baby burrito...

...and continued to pack...

...and finally got him in!...

...so we're off!...
...and then fifteen minutes later kids are hungry and thirsty, so we stop to take a break...

...and then we unpack...

...and after we eat the kids climb to the highest rock...

...and then we're off again...till we see a dog. So we stop and pet it.

...and then dad spots a beetle that is straight out of Jurassic Park so I have to take a picture...and Dalton kicks it to make sure it's dead...and thank goodness it is.

And then heaven pours down it's blessings and grants Dalton the gift of a leg in a tree. Yes, some people pray for rain, or jewels...but Dalton prays for dead body parts hanging on tree branches. And up until now he was starting to doubt God. Wondered if He'd heard his prayers. But he is now a believer!

Yes, hanging on a tree branch is a leg of some sort. Shelby was quick to try to identify the species..."It could be a deer, but wait, those hooves are not right. It could be a sheep...or a ram." We went back and forth on what species it was, and how this mysterious leg ended up in the tree. Dalton said divine providence. Gavin thought teenagers. I guessed one of Santa's reindeer had had a little too much egg nog. Garrett just gazed at the hairy body part that was dangling at eye level....

...but we couldn't stand around all day and gaze lovingly at the dead leg, so on we went...

...and Shelby gathered some acorns, because when she and her friends are playing deer it will be really nice to have some real acorns to pretend to eat.

And then we headed back...cause the baby was trying to jump out of the pack, and the sun was getting low, and Dalton was promised the second Harry Potter movie cause he'd just finished the book...
...so down we went...

...and then we realized that we'd never found the Living Room...and then Shelby tripped...

...so we were definitely going home. Home to OUR living room and to peach shakes, Harry Potter 2, baths and bed.