Gathered the gang around bright and early this morning and bribed with a
promise of Honey Buns, loaded into the car to hit IFP. Tooling down Columbia
Parkway at 9:30 in the am--no traffic but blazing sun, so of course I miss
my exit. I am sure it had nothing to do with the music behind me. "Jesus
wants me for a Sunbeam sung at the top of 6yo lungs, accompanied by tinny
electronic xylophone version of "old MacDonald" played at a speed that makes
one hting of ALvin and the Chipmunks on Ritalin, and the baby singing
cheerfully "nah nah nah nah...heyayy, bye-bye"

Am I insane? Am I Possessed? Yeah--I need that Fcount in the double digits!!

Slight back-tracking, and I find the lot easily, park in the shade and stuff
babe (barefoot--no lost shoes here!)into the new Kelty (complete with price
tag stil lattached just in case we decide we hate it and I want to return
it) Happy snuffling noises reassure me and we begin reading the clues.

these are excellent for the family! Kids got to do a alot, flag
indentification, counting--reading!

Find Tall Stacks easily, stamp in (no pen in my pack, grrr...apparently
Butterfly Girl swiped yet another one) and continue to the next box. Love
looking at the "fossils" along the way. Couple of false starts for Little
Hummer--mom can't be bothered reaidng the clues completely--and once we
locate the location, I about give up but Happy Frog is determined and we
find it! Humdinger of a location! Would say more, but no spoilers!!

Only one more to go! Pass a couple of artists (real artists--paints and
easels and all--with Happy Frog reminding me not to tell everyone we are on
a secret treasrue hunt and Butterfly Girl remdinding me she wansts to attend
Clown COllege so she can be a balloon artist when she grows up) and I point
out a very realistic turtle statue. Happy Frog checks it out--and it moves!!
Butterfly girl joins him and we find out that turtles are capable of decent
speeds when pursued by enthusiastic youngsters. Finally convince Butterfly
Girl to put Mr. T back into the garden area, and proceed on the way to the
IFP box.

See a couple walking their daschunds (sp??--weiner dogs)--Kids proclaim them
Happy Dog 1 and Happy Dog 2, lol.

Butterfly girl is the star of this one--locates it, does a bit of balancing,
overcoming a few fears along the way, and we are happily stamping in in no
time!! BG returns the box to the hiding place, we check out the rest of the
Park and head home, hot, and happy. Once in the car, I noitce the back of my
hair is a bit sticky--apparently the happy snuffling of the Chickadee meant
her stuffy nose had finally given way. Euwww! Add Baseball Cap to my mental
list of things to pack in my bag....

This is a nice park--well worth the trip. Kids enjoyed it despite no
playground (bribed agian with Shakes on the way home after meeting daddy for
lunch and sharing our adventure). Lots to look at--and the river is
gorgeous! Stamps were great as well--Little Hummer was the family favorite.

Now, where to travel this weekend to increase that count??


Mama Stork
F9


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