The Last Nice Day of the Year

We keep having unseasonably warm weather this fall and winter, and every time, I think it's going to be the last nice day of the year and that we should spend as much time as possible outside to enjoy it.  Well, it was sunny and 54 on Sunday, December 2nd and so I delayed naptime so that we could play outside and take a walk.

The girls had fun digging up the last few carrots in our garden bed, and then they apparently tried to plant their little trowels.  I have no idea what they were doing, but they were working nicely together and having fun!

Then they asked if we could go for a walk on our exploring path, or as Megan says "the sneaky back way".  So we walked and scootered over to the little patch of woods bordering the farm across the street from us, and made our way through the trees to the top of the hill.  Megan can climb over branches and dodge low hanging limbs all by herself now.  In fact, the girls have an easier time of it than I do!

Amelia pointed out some fallen tree bark covered in lichen.  "Moose eat lichen", she told me.  She really likes moose, and was disappointed to hear that we don't have any moose in our little forest.

Then we decided to explore a little further, and walked along the field.

The girls climbed up "a great big rock" and had fun jumping off of it, while holding onto my hand.

We found a few big holes in the ground.  I asked the girls what kind of animal could live in this hole.  Amelia thought a squirrel, but Megan said, "No, a lion!"  Here she is looking for the lion:

We played I-Spy and found corn cobs, corn husks, rocks, dried grasses, a bird's nest, moss, and an airplane.  Amelia collected some dried grass to make a bouquet.

I'm glad we got out to explore, because while it was 63 on Monday, it was misty in the morning, and rainy in the afternoon, and we didn't get to play outside at all.  I wonder if we'll have any more nice days before winter finally sets in?  The girls are anxious to go sledding!