where the magic happens

Happy Birthday, Christy!

2012-01-23T02:36:00.000-08:00

Dear Christy,

January 23, 1977 was a day that we will never forget! It was 34 years ago this morning, at 2:36 a.m., that you entered this world, and what an entrance that was! You arrived 6 weeks early and it became apparent very quickly, that you weren't quite ready for your debut.

In 1977, ultrasound was very new. My doctor sent me to have an ultrasound and when it was over, they told us that they were gathering data so that someday they might be able to tell the sex of the baby. I asked if they had any guesses about you and they technician just smiled and said, "What are you hoping for?" and I said a girl would be nice. She just smiled and said "You might be very happy in a couple months."

The Saturday night before you were born, I was not feeling very well, and at 10:03 p.m., the first labor pain hit me. For about an hour I tried to ignore them, but by 11:30, they were coming regularly, about 5 minutes apart. By 12:30, we decided it was time to call the doctor. She said that we should go to the hospital.

When I walked down the stairs to get in the car, it felt like you were going to drop out before I got to the garage. Well, you decided to stay in, and we went ahead and dropped Alan off at Grandma and Grandpa's house on the way to the hospital.

Great Grandma Letha holding you for the first time

We got the hospital, the old Adventist hospital on 60th and Belmont, and made our way to the basement. They had built a new hospital and moved all but the maternity ward. It was like being in an old abandon building. I got settled in, prepped and my doctor arrived, checked me out and said, "I guess we'd better get this baby out." If it were today, the doctor probably would have prescribed some anti-contraction meds and put me on bed rest. But, in the good old days, the doctor didn't want to waste a trip to the hospital, so a C-section it was!

I hope all these black and white photos don't make you feel too old!

The anesthesiologist came in my room, administered a spinal block, and in a few minutes, I was moved to a make-shift surgery room. The pediatrician arrived to complete the team, and it was time to get you out and into the world. In those days, the fathers didn't get to be part of the birthing process, so Dad was out in the waiting room, and it was just you and me. But, I couldn't wait to meet you!

In a few minutes, the doctor said, "Congratulations, you have a little girl!"

I was so happy that you were a girl! But, I didn't hear any baby sounds, so I finally said, "Is my baby OK?" And then my lights went out...I will let Dad pick pick up the story.

_____________________________

Dad: If ever there was a picture of the pacing father-to-be, it was me. After I kissed your mom and watched her being wheeled down the hall, I went into full-on pacing mode. After a few minutes, there seemed to be increasing levels of activity coming and going from the area your mom had been taken to. I kept asking about her and our baby, but no one would say anything except you'll have to wait for the doctor. Finally, I saw our pediatrician and a whole cluster of medical staff huddled over a small crib and half-running down the hall. I fell in behind them and asked if our baby was OK. I got no answer as the elevator doors shut between us.

Christy and Ivan

Dad: I took the next elevator to the nursery area and anxiously watched and waited. I had no idea what was happening, but the intensity of those caring for you, made it very obvious that you were in trouble. After a couple of hours, the doctor finally stepped out into the hall and found me. He told me that you were a girl, and explained that you were born premature and were not able to breath well on your own. They used a hand ventilator to assist you after you were born, but did not have neonatal ventilators to assist your breathing.

Dad: In 1977, hospitals in Portland, were surprisingly primitive. The most basic life support systems for infants were only to be found at the Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Center. The doctor said they would do all they could, but they needed to get you on a ventilator at OHSU. Unfortunately, there was a waiting list to get a bed once one became available, and you were #2 on the list. Somehow you seemed to know that you needed to fight. I would stand by your bed and talk to you and tell you what a great job you were doing -- you just laid completely still and kept breathing. The nurses would come and draw another sample of blood, and you didn't cry or stir, you just kept breathing. You were beautiful, and I was so proud of you (and worried)!

_____________________________

I woke up some time later and found myself recovering from surgery in a storage closet. I mean there were brooms, a cleaning cart, paper goods and janitorial supplies. I called out, "Hello, Is anyone around here?" A nurse finally came in and said I wasn't supposed to be awake yet. I said, "I just want to see my baby!" After what seemed like a very long time, they took me upstairs and as we passed by the nursery, the nurse stopped next to the window. I saw you and I said "That is my baby! She looks just like me!" That was my only glimpse of you until 24 hours later when I was finally able to get into a wheel chair, with all my bottles and tubes, and a nurse pushed me down to the nursery.

Dad: I spent most of the time standing over your bed. You had beautiful long fingers. You hung in there and just kept on breathing. When they would need to work on you, they would send me out, and I would go find your Mom and try to give her some care. Through a series of events, you got moved to the top of the waiting list when a bed became available at OHSU. All you had to do was hang on until the Team arrived with the specially equipped mobile neonatal care center came to transfer you. A doctor, a respiratory specialist, a couple of neonatal RN's and the ambulance attendants all arrived at about midnight on your second day.

Dad: By daybreak, you were ready to move and the trip across town began. I didn't know where they were taking you at the OHSU campus, so I followed close and wouldn't let you out of my sight. When we got there, the ambulance driver threatened me and told me how I shouldn't have followed them. I paid no attention to him...I only cared about you. I walked away from him while he was still sputtering.

Dad: Within an hour you were settled into your new bed and resting while the respirator did your breathing for you. You looked very relieved. I know your mom and I were!

Dad: Every day, I was at the hospital by your side. As the shifts would change, all of the neonatal doctors and nurses and respiratory specialists would meet with the new shift to pass on the information of the day. Each group would smile when they came to your bed and say, "This is Christy, our miracle baby!" Each day you grew stronger and in 7 days (not 6 months as we had been told when you arrived), we were taking you home.

_____________________________

Because I had a C-section, and it was 1977, the doctors kept you in the hospital for a full week to recover. You were about 10 miles away from me, so I would listen to every word your dad said as he updated me on how you were doing. They also gave me a phone number that I could call anytime, night or day, to find out how you were doing. I hadn't been able to hold you yet, and that is very hard for a new mom.

They put me at the opposite end of the floor, away from the moms and babies, probably so that we couldn't hear the babies cry. I was in a room with a first time mom that had a premature baby an hour after me, and her baby didn't make it. After the first two days, I told them I didn't want any more pain medicine. I knew that as long as I was having shots of Demerol and other meds, they would never let me leave the hospital and I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. I convinced my very old fashioned doctor to let me leave the hospital on the day you were 4 days old. Dad picked me up and drove me right to the hospital. We still couldn't hold you, but we could touch you and talk to you.

Your diaper was too big for little you

You had been too sick for them to weigh you when you were born, but they estimated that you weighed around 5 lbs. Your weight dropped to around 4 1/2 lbs, but you started gaining, and put on weight everyday. Many people were praying for you during that week and the doctors and nurses said they had never had a baby that turned around so fast. The day your were five days old, I got to hold you for the first time.

Holding you for the first time

By your sixth day, all the support systems and other attachments had been taken off. You were completely free. They said that we could take you home on your seventh day. The nurses and doctors were so happy! They cried when it was time for us to take you home and asked us to come and visit so they could see you grow.

You slept with your eyes partly open when you were younger

We took you back up there several times during your first year, but it was just for a visit. The doctors and nurses were still talking about "Christy, the miracle baby!"

We took you up there every year on your birthday until you were about 7 years old, and then you told us you didn't want to go up there again because it made you feel sick, listening to people talk about how sick you had been and how fast the "miracle baby" had recovered. We didn't take you again after that until you were much older.

They thought you might be smaller that other kids your age, but you weren't!

Your brother was 15 months old when I got pregnant with you. When we found out I was pregnant, we were so happy! We wanted our kids to be close in age so that you could grow up together and become great friends for life. You ended up 23 months apart in age and I'm so happy that you are still great friends.

Hardly a day has passed to this day, that we do not think about our how thankful we are that you graced our lives with your presence. We have always been proud of our Christy, our daughter. You are talented, beautiful, intelligent and the wonderful mother of our two grandboys, Wiley and Ivan.

Christmas 2011

Even though your are all grown up and have kids of your own, you will always be our "baby!"

Happy Birthday!

We love you!

One Little Word for 2012

2012-01-04T13:13:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are and it is January 4, 2012. Did you make any resolutions for the New Year? How is that going? Not so good? I found an idea that I would like to share; one little word.

The concept is basically this – instead of making a bunch of New Years Resolutions that depress you and make you feel inadequate, you choose a word. A word to live your life by for a year.

It could be something that is missing in your life that you want back, like JOY, FRIENDSHIP, WISDOM or PEACE. It could be something you want to do more of, like LISTEN, WORK, LEARN, FOCUS, CREATE or FORGIVE. Listen to what your heart wants and your word will probably choose you!

If you aren't sure what to do with your word after you have it, just live with it every day. Bring it into your life. Be prepared to follow it where ever it leads you. There are so many possibilities.

My word is RENEW.

What's your word?

The original idea came from Ali Edwards and you can click her link and read the whole story if you like.

Out on a Limb

2012-01-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T02:11:00.000-08:00

Wolfe Family Christmas 2011

2011-12-28T13:45:00.000-08:00

Every year we look forward to our Wolfe family Christmas gathering. During this past year, we had several new additions to the family.

Our newest addition, Ella Mae

Our second youngest addition, Elias, with auntie Laura

Elias with mommy, Selah and uncle Ryan

Sumin and Kathleen

Great grandpa enjoying Ella and Wiley unwrapping a chocolate

Ivan keeping his first-cousins-once-removed, entertained while unwrapping a chocolate

Gathering for appetizers

Kevin and auntie Cheryl

Cousins Clark, Laura, Betsy and Vinny

Grandma Dorothy and Christy

Vinny, Matt, Greg and Holly

David and Kelsey

Wiley getting to know his second cousin

Sweet baby

Wiley

Wiley and Ivan flashed several chocolatey smiles throughout the evening

Cheryl and Dorothy

Misty

Cousins Vinny and Christy

Lori, our hostess for the evening

Dear hubby

Gary

Lexi working the floor

Great grandma visiting with Ella

Vinny and Christy

Jeff and Holly

Misty and Cheryl - daughter and mom

Betsy checking out a new outfit for Ella

Natalie, Wiley, Grant, Davis, CJ, Madi, Larry, Gary

Lexi waiting for falling food

Jeff, Holly and Dorothy

Lori and Jeff taking a breather

Larry cleaning up

Lexi is a very patient girl

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T11:47:00.000-08:00

Have a very

Merry Christmas

with the ones you love!

Split Pea Soup with Garlic Croutons

2011-12-20T00:20:00.000-08:00

As the holidays are upon us with parties and gatherings, I find it harder to be in control of my diet. I decided that my best choice is to make sure our meals at home are healthy, low fat and lower calories. Also keeping plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits available helps. It leaves a little more wiggle room when we are eating away from home.

So, we will be eating a lot of soup, mostly bean soups with a little meat. It needs to be hearty so dear hubby doesn't miss that meat! Here is a recipe I developed today that turned out really good. Dear hubby loved it and so did I. We will enjoy it for a couple of nights this week.

Split Pea Soup

Split pea, Soup, Smoked Ham Shank,

See Split Pea Soup on Key Ingredient.

Enjoy!

Our Family Baking Day

2011-12-19T10:12:00.000-08:00

Baking is so much more fun when you do it with somebody. Especially special somebodies, like sisters and nieces at Christmas. We all met at my sister Lori's house to bake this past weekend. The week before, she suggested we send her the recipes we wanted to make and she would have all of the ingredients available for us. How great is that! This will give you a peak at what it's like to bake at Lori's house.

This basket and table had all the baking necessities

A closer look

This table had utensils, cookie cutters, flavorings and decorating items

Bowls and measuring cups and spoons

Baking pans, parchment paper and other wrapping material

Our niece Misty

Our sister Lori

Our sister Kathleen

Oatmeal Scotchies

Peanut Butter Bars

Italian Anise Cookies with Icing

Coal for the naughty kids

I didn't get pictures of everything. We also made peanut butter balls, rice crispy treats, sugar cookies. We almost had peanut brittle, but there was a little problem with the cook time which produced smoke coming out of the microwave and resulted in the "coal" you see above. I'm sure I'm forgetting a couple of things that were made. It was all fun! Especially the time spent with family! I love them all!

Thanks Lori, for everything! Especially the memories!

Peanut Butter Balls

Peanut Butter, Chocolate,

See Peanut Butter Balls on Key Ingredient.

Here is the link for the Italian Anise Cookies with Icing and Sprinkles.

Here is the link for Granny's Sugar Cookies.

Enjoy!

All Warm and Cozy

2011-12-17T00:17:00.000-08:00

I know at least two squirrels that aren't going to be cold this winter! They have been busy stashing food in the ground, flower pots and trees. They have also been very busy making there nest very comfy.


The new squirrel nest is overflowing with cotton

And so are the trees

I think the squirrels raided one of our neighbors pillow stash. It has been very entertaining to watch them travel through the neighborhood trees and fences as they are rushing to their nest with cotton in their mouths. It would be very interesting to know where they found all of this batting. I predict lots of new squirrels by spring!

Happy Birthday to my brother Gary!
Have a very special day!
I love you!

A Wintery Day in the Neighborhood

2011-12-16T08:38:00.000-08:00

We're Off to See the Wizard with Dark Chocolate Mint Cookies

2011-12-16T00:16:00.000-08:00

We are headed to preview/dress rehearsal tonight for The Wizard of Oz, which will be playing at the Newmark Theater in The Portland Center for the Performing Arts, December 16th through January 1st, 2012 in downtown Portland, Oregon. But first, I had to bake cookies!

I enjoy baking cookies for the orchestra. They are the ones playing beautiful music while unseen by the audience, in the "orchestra pit." Our son has conducted the vocal and instrumental music many times, and he hides out in the "pit." He is conducting this show, something he does often in his "spare" time; evenings, weekends when most of us are relaxing. They are always the nicest people and love to get cookies! I made a batch of the usual favorite, but decided I wanted to take two different kinds of cookies this time. I decided dark chocolate with mint sounded like a great winter/holiday choice. I found a chocolate cookie recipe over at food.com and adapted it to fit what I wanted.

I used dark unsweetened cocoa and Andes Creme de Menthe Baking Chips. I put most of the chips inside the cookies, but I saved enough to sprinkle and press into the tops before baking, about 1/3 of a cup. It was the first time I had used them and I had thought the chips would be bigger than they actually were. They spread out on the pan so don't put them too close to each other on the pans for a nice round cookie.

Now to pack them up and head to the show.

We are back home after the show, 11:30 p.m. The show was fantastic! We can't wait to see it again. If you live anywhere near Portland, Oregon, you should run right out now and buy yourself some tickets.


The "pit" - where the magic happens

Dark Chocolate Mint Cookies

cookies, chocolate, mint, andes mints,

See Dark Chocolate Mint Cookies on Key Ingredient.

Enjoy!

Lace Cookies

2011-12-15T12:42:00.000-08:00

When I saw this recipe for Lace Cookies, I had a picture in my mind of what they were going to look like. I pictured them somehow looking lacy!?! Well, I'm not sure how these cookies got their name because they don't resemble lace in any way. I won't hold that against them because they are a very tasty cookie. They really caught my eye because the recipe calls for ground almonds. You can make ground almonds in your food processor, but I had a bag of Trader Joe's ground almonds in my cupboard, waiting to be used.

I had originally bought the ground almonds for a lemon loaf cake recipe that called for them. I made the lemon cake, but it turned out horrible. It was a bogus "recipe" that someone created and when baked, it ended up like clumpy lemon soup. Seriously! I threw it out and was determined to make something better with the remaining nuts. These cookies are very good, especially if you enjoy a little almond flavoring. I happen to like almond flavoring, but I know many people that don't enjoy the flavor at all! I plan to add a little more almond flavoring next time. They had just a hint or almond flavor and I like more than a hint.

These cookies have only seven ingredients and are super easy to make. The only down side with these cookies is that it takes a while to get them all baked. They spread as they bake so you can only put about 9 cookies on each baking sheet, unless you have Super sized pans. They are easy and good! I plan to make them again between now and Christmas.

One last thing, the quantity is an estimate. I had cookies cooling everywhere. As they were cooling, I was packaging them up to take with me on my travels for others to enjoy, so I never actually counted them. The smaller you make these, the more scooping, baking and cooling you will have.

Lace Cookies

Ground Almonds,

See Lace Cookies on Key Ingredient.

Enjoy!

A Few Holiday Favorites

2011-12-09T00:09:00.000-08:00

A few of our favorite holiday indulgences.

William-Sonoma Classic Hot Chocolate

William-Sonoma Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate

What else is there to say!

Trader Joe's has several new holiday treats this year

Yum

Dear hubby getting ready for a Christmas tuba concert

Easy Apple Galette

2011-12-08T00:08:00.000-08:00

If the thought of making an apple pie sounds daunting, try this easy Apple Galette. No pie plate needed. You can have a yummy apple pie on the table in less than two hours. You can also make it up ahead and hold it in the refrigerator and start baking it an hour before you want to serve it. A little scoop of vanilla ice cream makes it even better. A little caramel drizzle takes it over the top. Sorry I don't have picture to show you how nice it looks when served.

Easy Apple Galette

Galette, Apple, Pie crust,

See Easy Apple Galette on Key Ingredient.

Enjoy!

Christmas in Bloom

2011-12-07T11:27:00.000-08:00

Nothing says Christmas like a hot pink Christmas cactus

Oatmeal Cookies with Caramel Bits and Spiced Dried Apples

2011-12-06T00:06:00.000-08:00

Last year I baked several batches of caramel apple cookies that used fresh apple slices and Kraft caramel bits. They were good, but I felt the fresh apple pieces made them a little too moist and sticky. We ended up storing them in the refrigerator. When I saw these diced apples at New Season last week, I couldn't resist buying them with the intention of revisiting the caramel apple cookies. In the meantime, I had found another cookie recipe that sounded good so I made a few changes and they turned out great. Now I'm sharing it with you. I realize this isn't a very "Christmasy" recipe. I hope there will be a few of those in the near future.

Caramel Apple Cookies

Oatmeal, Apples, Caramel, Cookies

See Caramel Apple Cookies on Key Ingredient.

Enjoy!

Brrrrrr.....

2011-12-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful 25 degrees this morning!

It's The Holiday Season

2011-12-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

December. One of my favorite times of the year. I want to enjoy this month from beginning to end. It is the time for sharing, caring and giving.

I'm looking forward to candle light, Christmas lights and evenings snuggling in front of the fire.

I look forward to spending time with family and friends.

I hope you enjoy this Christmas season too.

39 Years! Are we really that old?

2011-11-25T00:01:00.000-08:00

Where the time has gone

I will never know

I was 14

you were 16

I liked you from the start

then I gave you my heart

39 years brought many things

a son

a daughter

two grandsons dear

through richer and poorer

through better and worse

through sickness and health

we have lived them all

but everyday has been better

with you by my side

As I look into your eyes

I see the young man

who captured my heart

and you will always be

forever young

So happy to share this day with you

as we celebrate 14,235 days

as husband and wife

'til death do us part

Happy Anniversary Dear Hubby

I love you today
and always

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T01:24:00.000-08:00

Spicy Chicken and Rice

2011-11-23T09:29:00.000-08:00

I hope you are enjoying this week of Thanksgiving. I have been busy all week planning and making ahead anything that could be made. This recipe is the only meal I have cooked for us all week. Good thing it had six servings! We both liked it so much, I had to take the time to pass it on to you. I adapted this recipe from a recipe that showed up in my Google reader from the wives with knives blog.

I like this recipe because you make it all in a saucepan and transfer it to a covered baking dish. It is a low fat recipe with the exception of the melted cheese on top... and then there is the possible addition of sour cream and some tortilla chips... if that interests you! We also served it with sliced avocado and fresh tomato slices on the side.

Spicy Chicken and Rice

Spicy, Chicken, Rice,

See Spicy Chicken and Rice on Key Ingredient.

Enjoy!

5 Minute Chocolate Birthday Cake

2011-11-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

My dear hubby had three days of celebrating his birthday this year. We celebrated with his family on Saturday and with our family on Sunday. After my dear hubby arrived home from work, I realized that my birthday plans for the evening were lacking anything fun! If I had thought ahead I could have put a bow on my head, but I didn't think of that in time. I decided it just wouldn't be a birthday without a little cake.

What did we ever live without computers? I quickly found an easy recipe, I made a couple changes and mixed it up while he was upstairs changing his clothes. I hid it in the cupboard before he came down and he had no idea he would soon be having chocolate birthday cake. I even had time to unwrap a small Reese's peanut butter cup leftover from Halloween, and push it into the center of the cake. The kitchen smelled like chocolate to me, but he didn't seem to notice.

We had a bowl of soup for dinner and after I cleared the table, I tried to sneak the mug out of the cupboard and into the microwave. Of course the surprise ended there. When the mug hit the plate in the microwave, there was a large clank! The number beeped on the keypad as I pushed "2 minutes" and "Start!" The light came on so he could see what was going on in there from the table. It was fun to watch the cake emerging from the mug. I had fun and he was impressed!

As you can see from the picture, it grew out of the mug as it baked. We sliced off the cake that rose above the mug, cut that in half and just like that, we had a birthday party! We realized later that the whole thing came right out of the mug for easy slicing. We even have several slices of leftover cake. It was very chocolatey, dense, moist and good! Of course the peanut butter cup sank right to the bottom, but I was impressed with how easy it was and how good it tasted. The best part; we don't have a big old chocolate birthday cake sitting on the counter, waiting to be eaten over the next few days! That's a very good thing!

5 Minute Chocolate Cake

Microwave, Chocolate, Cake,

See 5 Minute Chocolate Cake on Key Ingredient.

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Hon!

2011-11-14T14:30:00.000-08:00

Happy, happy birthday to my husband!

You are my one and only true love!

It would take me days to list all the things that make you so special to me!

You are a one-in-a-billion kind of a man!

I am so happy that your are my man!

You will always be young in my heart!

I love you today and always!

Veterans Day

2011-11-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

Veterans Day isn't always a happy day. To all those that have lost a family member to war, I am so sorry and our thoughts and prayers are with you. Our prayers are with all those who have family members today.

My dad served in the Navy during the Korean war. He was stationed in Hawaii and I was born there while he was in service. Thank you dad, for doing your part to make this world a safer and better place.

And, to my dear hubby who did his part by serving during the Vietnam war, you will always be my hero!

At the motel pool in Carmel

This picture was taken in 1970 when my future dear hubby was in basic training and then cook school at Fort Ord Base in California. My future mom and dad-in-law took me with them on a road trip to see him when he had a break and was able to leave the base. I was 16 years old. We all stayed in a motel in Carmel by the sea... a truly beautiful place. Fort Ord was closed down several years ago but you can still drive around inside the base. The barracks and cook school looked exactly the same. When he returned, he served out of Camp Withycombe in Clackamas Oregon for several years. Thanks hon!

An Afternoon at the Nature Park

2011-11-02T01:11:00.000-07:00

There are several nature centers near us in the Tualatin Valley. We have been to several and they have all been pretty amazing. While our daughter and the grandsons were in town last week, we went to the Tualatin Hills Nature Park in Beaverton, Oregon. This park has a constant stream of people coming in and out. Some are taking power walks, some are riding their bikes, some are testing sports products (Nike Headquarters is near.) We were there to enjoy the beauty of nature and to let the boys run around and burn some energy! It seems like this is a good time to say that unfortunately, I didn't have either of my cameras with me. All the following pictures were taking with my phone. Note to self: always take your small camera when you go to a nature park, especially with the grandsons!

Spotted Owl

We had walked inside the park about 500 feet when we saw a man headed toward us and he was motioning for us to be quiet. I thought, are you kidding, we are outside, in the woods! He proceeded to tell us about what was going on ahead, right off the path. A spotted owl and a king snake were in the middle of a stare down! We continued forward on tip toes, anxious to see what was going on. As we rounded the corner, we saw that a group of people had gathered and some were taking pictures.

No wonder, it was shocking to see a large owl in plain view, sitting on a tree branch about 8 feet off the path. It was very aware of the crowd and glanced over his shoulder, looking at us, several times, clearly unafraid. One of the first things I thought about was the controversy surrounding these beautiful owls. Some would say that they single-handedly closed down the timber industry in the northwest. Here are two links about the spotted owl. You will find general information about the spotted owl at this link. You can read about their impact on the northwest here.

A funny thing happened on the way out. We couldn't find our way out! We had gone off the main paved path and had walked on several unpaved paths and then we couldn't find the paved path that would take us out. We walked around for about 45 minutes, convinced that we had found the right path and that we were almost out. When we passed a large white mushroom that we had passed going in the opposite direction, we knew we had a problem. We laughed at the thought of needing to call the nature center office and having someone guide us to the entrance.

We kept walking and we soon realized that the sun was headed down and it was getting darker as we walked along. At this point, we also laughed at the thought of needing to call 911 and asking for help if the nature center was closed. All the while, we were assuring the boys that everything was just fine. We weren't lost, we just couldn't find the main path out! Before too long, we saw a nice man approaching us and he sent us in the right direction. Before long we were on the right path!

On our way to the car, the park ranger, Molly, was just getting out of her truck. Wiley and Ivan had lots of questions for her and she spent at least 20 minutes talking to them and answering all their questions. She also gave us lots of history and information about the park.

We were glad we got out before dark. All the wild animals come out when it gets dark! Don't worry, it wasn't even 5 o'clock yet!