{into nature}

{into nature} is a weekly Monday post inspiring the exploration of nature. It is a grassroots effort to combat the nature deficit disorder in our current generations. Please join me in this movement back into nature by sharing your own nature inspiration, whether shared through photographs, words, poetry…. leave a link here in the day's comments for all to enjoy.
“For children, nature comes in many forms. A newborn calf; a pet that lives and dies; a worn path through the woods; a fort nested in stinging nettles; a damp, mysterious edge of a vacant lot- whatever shape nature takes, it offers each child an older, larger world… nature does not steal time; it amplifies it.” -Richard Louv

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noah had a rough day thanks to four new teeth working their way out.  i had a rough day thanks to a very crabby babe.  there was alot of crying and whining, no napping, an overwhelmed tension- crankiness all around.  pat came home to an irritated mama and an over tired babe.  thankfully noah finally went down for a much needed nap.  i loaded up tanner and duke, headed into the nearby woods, and made it my mission to send all my irritation hiking. 

i told that part of me that just wants to move on the trail to stay home, that this trip into the woods was all about standing around and taking it all in.  i didn't need the irritation that can sometimes creep up when trying to get a near three year old moving on the trail when there are so many things to see and explore within a ten foot diameter.

a few hours later we arrived home with a sleeping tot in the backseat, a calmed dog, and much more grounded mama.  and of course the usual few new rocks to add to our collection.