Hikes in the snow (and some outdoor ice skating in a tunnel)

During the Winter Break, the kids each had a friend over and we went on a hike.  Max's friend, Danny came over and Elise's friend, Kennedy was over.  Kennedy's dad was our guide on the hike around Wyandotte County Lake Park.  Apparently, there used to be an outdoor movie theater, an ice skating rink, and a swimming pond out there.  Besides Danny and I falling, the whole hike was fantastic!

Mr. Scott, our hiking guide (I would have been lost in those woods for a couple of hours without a guide!)

 The long straw-colored grass was so cushy!  It felt like a really comfortable bed - Mr. Scott said that it was because the race track over the hill (that was for racing dogs and horses) use to dump all their manure there.  Not sure if he was kidding, but it certainly was thick!

We found an old building with parts of ice skates, old signs, advertisements, etc.  Then we hiked around the "swimming hole".

Max and Danny tried to get me with snowballs, but it kind of just flew back in their faces. *chuckle*

 Then we found two tunnels; one was full of dirt and mud, the other was deep with 5 inches of ice.  So, we were able to ice skate - it was very smooth, a little dark, and a lot of fun and laughs.

(Above) On the way back we had to cross the skeleton of the bridge that used to be the way for people to drive up to the theater.  It was very slippery and probably a little dangerous, but the kids all followed directions and we all made it over just fine.  
(Below) Danny, Max, Kennedy, and Elise were all pretty tuckered when we were through.  Mr. Scott and I were hurrying them along but as you see below, they were sometimes a ways behind.  No-one wanted to go sledding when we were finished...except me. 

The pond seemed pretty well frozen solid. But Mr. Scott pointed out this treacherous little area near the edge of the pond that was a little freaky to be close to.  We weren't really that close to it, but it made me nervous to have kids even kind of close to it. 

The boys wanted to leave their mark that they had been here for the new year, even if it was temporary.

I loved seeing the beauty of Jack Frost at work. The designs of the snow on the ice seemed picture worthy.

(Jan. 2, 2014)