Founders Park (Carmel, indiana)

Daddy spent the past 5 years working on this park, on and off. The construction wrapped up and it opened to the public last month. Nancy and the boys were able to attend the event with me and to try out the playground. I think it came out pretty well.

Ball Games

As it worked out Isaac and Jacob were able to attend a Colts preseason game, as well as two Indianapolis Indians baseball games in the past months. It was the first time Nancy had seen the new Colts Stadium and the first Colts game for all three of them. They lost, but we had a great night. The stadium is spectacular (an encouragement every time we go out to eat and pay 1% more in sales tax.)





The Indians lost both games we went to as well, but the atmosphere, 99 degrees and all, is just perfect. And free parking at the zoo for the dutchman daddy.



Lastly, the boys were able to get their ball gloves signed by Indians' catcher Eric Fryer. He made two lifelong fans. He was up with Pittsburgh earlier this summer and will hopefully catch on with them for good next year.

Shades State Park

On Labor day the four of us visited Shades State Park in western Indiana. The weather broke last night, dropping from 100 on Saturday to only 68 degrees today. Finally.



Shades Park is in the middle of nowhere, on the bank of Sugar Creek. We started out with a steep descent in to the 'Devil's Punch Bowl' carved by a stream out of the shale. The walls were a good 60' high all around with just a trickle of water in the bottom.



We hiked back out a visited an overlook at the top. There was a 35 year-old playground that engaged the boys more than most new ones (not the ones I design of course.)



There are more trails we could not get to, marked Rugged and Very Rugged. That will leave us something to look forward to. Isaac and Jacob did manage some 'Rugged' stream crossings.

100 Acre Wood

Sunday the boys and I took a hike at IMA's 100 Acres Art Park. This provided Mommy a chance for a nap and to rest her back. We always enjoy the interactive sculpture as well as the timeless 'throwing rocks in the pond.'

We worked on our their Cub Scout hiking pin requirements, by identifying five tree species and five bird species. They also helped to plan the hike; snacks, route, checking the weather etc... They each needed log a total of 5 hours hiking, which leads into the next post.