let's go fly a kite

 The neighbor boys came up with a way to make their own kite.  Dieter was all too happy to try it out.  I think he is happy too that it is finally starting to feel like fall. 

big trees

 A couple of Saturdays ago we drive a couple hours up the road to Calaveras County.  The Big Trees State Park is there and it is beautiful!  We had a great time exploring and enjoying nature.  It seems like it has been way too long since we went on a little adventure.  We didn't get to stay as long as we would have liked....so it's a must to go back.  Come visit and it will be a great excuse to get back up there!

 The Tuesday before we went to see the big trees, Dieter has his 2 year doctor appointment.  They took his measurements and he is in the hundredth percentile for his height.  Compared to these trees, however, he looks a little on the short side!

 There was one tree in the park that had been cut down way back before it was a State Park.  The people that owned the land where the big trees stood wanted to show the world how big the tree was, so they cut it (I think it took 22 days to cut it down) and took a big chunk of the trunk on tour to market land.  They wanted to make money.   What is left is the "stump".  Through the years it has been used for all sort of activities:  School, housing, and dancing (think back in the day night clubs!). When Dieter heard there was dancing he started to bust a move himself on the stump!

 The above mentioned stump

 Dieter the explorer!

 One of the trees that had fallen years and years and years ago is hallowed out.  It is large enough that we could walk through it. 

This is some of the length of the tree that we walked through.  These trees are just huge!

 This guy was a great tour guide.  The loop we went on was about two miles.  He was so knowledgable and was very understanding of our cute little toddler who was sometimes not cooperative.  

 A tree to walk through.  Dieter thought it was kind of cool.