Sap to Syrup

This past weekend, Charlie and I went to Holliday Park for a special program called "Sap to Syrup".  We met up with my friend Katie and her son Cole on a very chilly day!  Since it was during naptime, it was a special event around here!

The program included a self-guided tour through the woods, where we stopped at stations to hear all about the process of making maple syrup.  Surprisingly, Charlie was very interested, and enjoyed the walk in the woods.  Katie snapped a few pictures for me on her phone :)

 

At one of the stations, Charlie got to try the hand drill on a fallen log, to make a hole for the syrup to come out.  Charlie was so excited to try the drill (even resulting in a few tears while we waited for his turn) and together we made 2 holes in the log.  We learned that it takes 50-60 gallons of Indiana sap (from the Sugar Maple) to make only one gallon of maple syrup--no wonder it is so expensive!!!  There was a bucket set up with a tap from one of trees, and it was full of frozen sap...too cold.  I didn't know the sap was clear!

After the walk through the woods, we saw sap boiling over a campfire, and the boys got to do a taste test--pure maple syrup (what we use at our house) versus "log cabin" fake syrup.  Cole said he preferred the log cabin (Katie says he's never had anything but the real deal) but Charlie wouldn't pick--he liked both!

Inside for a tasty treat (biscuit, ice cream and maple syrup on top) and a cool craft--coloring a maple leaf and making it into a button.

All in all, a fun event, Charlie even ended up taking a nap after we got home--the fresh air does wonders!  We'll be back next year--hopefully for better "sugaring" weather!

Touch a Truck

So I'm rather behind on the blog posts...and my "goal" while I'm out here on vacation is to get caught up (and keep up! we're taking lots of pictures out here). So while you may have already seen "Touch a Truck" pictures on friend's blogs and facebook (ahem, Erin), I thought I should post a few of my own. Charlie had a blast getting to climb in, on and around all of the trucks at Broad Ripple Park--check it out!

My friend Erin bought the older boys all matching "Fireman in Training" teeshirts that Charlie just loves! Sam also had a firetruck shirt (Sam's face in the 2nd picture is about a half second away from bursting out crying...apparently our enthusiasm for trucks scared him a bit)The kids waiting patiently as we arrived before it actually started...Charlie driving the school bus!Cole and Charlie checking out the mail truckWouldn't I love such a fun package at my door :)After the mail truck...off to the Limo!Charlie driving his fav, the cement mixer!Driving the city bus...which he just now finally stopped calling it "Mama's bus" (he used to walk me to the bus stop in the morning for work...)Playing with the toy recycling truckIn the back of an armored car (SWAT or something?)Driving a race car!The three boys with the matching tee shirts--Charlie, Cole and Ian. This is as close as we can get to a group shot! As a side note I would like to say that Charlie didn't have any accidents while climbing in and out of the truck--my biggest fear without the diapers! We had a great time, but next year I might make Scott come along...lifting Charlie in and out of the trucks with Sam tied to my chest wore me out!

Coxhall Gardens

It's summertime and we're out and about!
Last week we decided to venture up to Coxhall Gardens, a park near the Village of Westclay in Carmel. It was a BEAUTIFUL Sunday morning and we had fun just letting the kids run around!

Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the cute cottages ("stores") in the "town"...but a few pictures of Charlie's favorite part--the fire hydrant!*Please note Charlie's "lightening mcqueen" hat that he wears CONSTANTLY...awesome.