Treasure Hunters

We took advantage of the unseasonably unbelievably absurdly warm weather and went with some friends on our first geocaching hike. Geocaching is something I've been meaning to do with the kids for awhile now. We finally got around to it and the experience did not disappoint. It was a true adventure for the kids with a real payoff. They loved it -- you would have thought they had just struck upon some long lost loot left behind by John Dillinger himself.

ge-o-cach-ing - noun - the recreational activity of hunting for and finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates posted on a Web site. (New Oxford American Dictionary)

To start your own geocaching hunts visit geocaching.com and/or download the iPhone app.

You can't go treasure hunting without a good stick.

Only a few billion leaves to search under.

Amelia had no qualms about digging into this rotting tree.

It was right here this whole time?!?!

The loot!

North America's fiercest treasure hunting crew.

And now to ponder what to do with my share of the treasure.

Here ducky, ducky, ducky.

Dad would never let me sit this close to the pond if he didn't have his camera with him.

Freedom

The trips to Cox Arboretum may begin again. Last week we made our first of what will be many, many visits to this beautiful park -- so glad to be getting out of the house on a regular basis again. Thank you, Spring.

Batman fan. Nature lover.

Getting too big too fast!

As Truman would say, "We're the trins."

Indiana Jameson in action.

Amelia the tree climber, preparing for her dismount.

Not the "baby" for much longer...

Who speaks for the trees?

Ava

I did some more photography work this past weekend.  While half as old as my last subject, she was a natural in front of the camera.  The weather didn't cooperate entirely, but we still managed some excellent pictures.  Thanks, Ava!

[Full Gallery]

The King

Cox Arboretum is a Dayton treasure.  It's one of the best city parks I've ever visited.  And it's especially great if you're into geeky things like taking pictures of butterflies.  Which I happen to be.

Not That Kind of Cox

I almost forgot. Cox Arboretum is also a great place for teenagers creepy old people to make out in public.

Cox Arboretum

Cox Arboretum & Gardens is a public park on the south side of Dayton. It's one of those local jaunts that you've aware of, that you know you're tax dollars are contributing to and that you know the schools take field trips to, but that you never actually go visit. Well, now that my full time job is feeding, not killing, and entertaining three little kids, it seemed like now was as good a time as any to finally check out the Cox.

Well, it turns out it's a fairly stellar little get up. It's one of those places that would keep people from bitching about how boring their city is if they ever actually got off their ass and explored what their hometown has to offer. (Of course it's not like I was one of those people.) I've driven past this place a million times and assumed it was a quaint little park tucked into a highly populated residential area and it's where old people go for walks. In reality, it's a ridiculously large park somehow tucked into a highly populated residential area and it's where old people go for walks. I'm not sure how, but they managed to carve out 189 acres of park space and according to their website they've got a shrub garden with more than 500 different trees and shrubs, a woodland wildflower garden, a rock garden, a water garden, clematis arbor, a crabapple allee, a stonewall perennial garden, a meditation garden, a conifer collection, a children's maze, an edible landscape garden, a conservation corner, a butterfly house and garden and 3.5 miles of walking trails.

I can't verify all of that. I think we saw about 10% of the park on our visit. But, most importantly, in that 10% we saw the children's maze. It's a maze with concrete paths winding between 3 foot tall shrubs. And there's only one way in and out. And it's a godsend. I can let all three kids loose in this thing and just sit by the entrance to make sure no one escapes. It's like the world's biggest pack n' play. The kids love it and I get to relax while they burn off some of their fusion-like energy.

Mr. Serious


Maze navigators.



Following the leader.



Cabbage Patch Kid




Zipp, the goose hunter -- a much appreciated full time employee of the park.