We packed up the car and took a trip down to visit Auntie E! She took us to Sugar Grove Nature Center in Funks Grove Illinois. I wish our town had a children's area in the middle of the forest like this! Mud pits for digging, zip lines, cabins, tire swings, sand boxes, and pots laid out by the stream for cooking. Basically, every kid's dream!
The barn is set up with old rockers to take in views of the prairie.
My new bird watchers!
And the youngest explorer of the group!
And since I am on the subject of my sis, I am going to take this moment to brag about her! She is a passionate gardener who has shared her love of gardening with her students through their school garden program. Keep up the mission E!!! You Rock!
Funks Grove, what a name!! Your family is beautiful. Love the photo of your daughter looking into the wishing well - so sweet!!
ReplyDeleteWow! How awesome is that?! What a great way to spend the day. And I LOVE seeing pics of your kids. :)
ReplyDeleteI was going to say that my favorite photo was the one with the colorful flowers and the wheel leaning against the building, but then I saw the "little bean" looking into the wishing well.
ReplyDeleteCreating memories - wonderful!
This looks like a kid's paradise! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, what fun! All those happy smiles! What a great place to take the beans for a fun day of learning and exploring. Love all the photos - so precious. The school gardening program is a wonderful way to introduce children to how our food is grown. It's amazing how something like that can really impact a growing mind. I see some budding agriculture and ecology majors there! Kudos to your sis! xo
ReplyDeleteHow fun, what a beautiful place!! Your kids are so adorable! I love your oldest girls pose by the wood logs, makes me think she was dancing! That is what I would do if I was there!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place for the children to be children, and so pretty also.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect place for kids! And kids make great bird watchers, my 2.5 year old can spot a bird among the leaves like the best of them, it takes me a while to figure out what he is pointing at. :) He can also hear sirens of a firetruck good few seconds before they break the sound barrier... or maybe it's me- I'm just blind and deaf already! :p
ReplyDeleteWonderful place! My maiden name was Funk and I come from a long line of them from the midwest, so it was great to see our namesake prairie grove enjoyed so well.
ReplyDeleteThis place looks awesome! Your kids look like they had a great time (and you do too!)
ReplyDeleteI have driven by Funks Grove probably hundreds of times, as it is off of I-55 between Springfield and Chicago. Glad your family had such a great time. Your kids are adorable as ever, especially the ballerina and the cowboy.
ReplyDeleteOh Nicole what a great place to bring the kids! You all look like you had a super time! Bet they all slept in the car on the way home too :) Hazel x
ReplyDeleteThis is a really wonderful place for children and parents. Your cute looking kids will have had a great fun day, as I see.
ReplyDeleteYou had me at mud pit (seriously)... I could, happily, spend all day at a place like this. Beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteThis place is so cool! I think it is so great that you take your kids to explore all things nature. They sure are cuties! Sounds like you have a great sister!
ReplyDeleteLiz
What an awesome place. The kids look like they're having the best time!
ReplyDeleteFun! What a great play area...my SIL works at the nature center near us...maybe I should forward these pictures along to her, in case she's looking for new ideas ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks Nicole for finding my blog now I have become a follower of your blog. So adorable. Your kids are adorable.
ReplyDeleteKris
What a lovely day out! Your babies are so cute Nicole!
ReplyDeleteHave a good week,
Sarah xxx
I bet the kids had a great time! What great family pictures!
ReplyDeleteIt takes someone who is a kid at heart to create a space like this! I love the ideas you mentioned ... especially the pots by the water ;) The gardens are so pretty with the native flowers. The horse tire swing would've been a hit with my kids when they were small. Glad you enjoyed your day to Funky Grove!! Wendy x
ReplyDeleteWho needs Disneyland...this looks like IT might be the happiest place on earth - at least from the smiles on the Bean's faces! Happy Tuesday, Nicole...
ReplyDeleteHey Nicole - that last comment should have had MY name attached...I didn't realize I was still signed in under Carole/the Ribbon Store. Looks like you have a little ballerina on your hands, as well! XOXO Tanya
ReplyDeleteSo much fun! Love your posts like this!
ReplyDeleteOmg! I love this ;) so beautiful here! I love the picture of you and the kids! I want more ;) xo friend!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous post! Quite an adventure you have taken us on here! I would enjoy a peaceful, easy feeling there! thank you...keep it up!
ReplyDeleteAloha
looks like a really nice place to visit! A place you can really take your time and learn at. I like those places.
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