exploring........

aubrey and i went on a little exploration adventure around my dad's property tonight.

i got to show her all the things i used to do outside when i was little.

i wanted to show her all the climbing trees i used to climb up and read in when i was her age.

but, they all seem to have grown and are a whole lot taller than i remember...

we managed to find a tree in front where she could reach the branches.

tree hugger.

we also discovered it's a bit difficult to climb trees in a dress...

:/

i remember these trees being about half this size when i lived here.

it's really neat going in the little grove, underneath the pine trees.

it feels like you're in a whole other world, inside a huge forest.

there's lots of green in Illinois!

so different from Utah, makes me feel like i used to live in a jungle or something.

after walking around the yard for a while, aubrey decided to put some pants on so we could get really adventurous and explore down by the river.

we had to look out for stickers and poison ivy.

the river is really high right now because of all the rain they've been getting here.

i had fun with my little explorer girl.

it's fun showing her and telling her what i did as a little girl.

she thinks it's so neat that we used to just go out in the woods and make our own fun.

ahh, memories!

the only thing i don't remember is how allergic i must be to mosquito and chigger bites.

i think my foot may or may not fall off soon from being so swollen.

 it's a small price to pay for being home again.

:)