Hiking to Ramona Grasslands Pond

With all the rain we've had here in Southern California, there are streams, ponds, and puddles sprouting up everywhere. Dave bought me some rain boots after our last episode with our backyard flooding

where I tried to use bread bags to cover my sneakers while I pushed the water away from our patio doors. (spoiler alert: It didn't work. I had dirty chicken poo water squishing between my toes in less than 5 minutes.) Pretty stoked to have rain boots, even though the rainy season is over.

I like to get the kids out into nature at least once a week, (plus I wanted to break in my new boots!) so we headed out to one of our favorite local spots, The Ramona Grasslands Preserve. Last time we were up there, we discovered frogs in the cracks of the dry pond bed, so we were pretty sure we'd be finding frogs and tadpoles now that the water was back. And we found plenty of water! The Grasslands had turned into the marshlands!

The trail up to the pond was flooded, so we abandoned Pepper's stroller and I had her cling to me like a little monkey while we hiked up the stream, past the waterfall, and finally made it to the pond. 

There we sat in the sunshine eating Oreos and crackers, and watching the boys build boats out of dead tree bark. Jared needed a sail, so I searched my backpack for any scrap of paper big enough. All I could come up with was a thrift store gift certificate with 35 cents left on the balance. Good enough for Jared! 

We made some really great memories out there. All of these pictures were taken BEFORE Jared and Ashton wandered off so far away that I couldn't see them and they couldn't hear me. A gang of cows began to approach me and Pepp, (she has a very real phobia of cows!) mooing very aggressively. Now, I am not usually afraid of cows, as I grew up around them, but this particular group really got to me. Especially the satanic black one with the white skull face. You know the kind I'm talking about. We just about ditched the boys and ran the trail back to the parking lot, but I stood my ground. It was a close call. ;) 

I don't generally PLAN our adventures. They are very spontaneous. If I plan an adventure, I tend to be more anxious because LIFE doesn't always stick to our plans. AMIRIGHT?

Now, go have an adventure!