Madeline Bertrand Park

We spent our Sunday afternoon at the park. It's a beautiful park that never gets very busy because there is a fee to park there ($3 once or $35 a year). There are many hiking trails, a clean, well cared for playground and lots of room to run. Our kids like to run, and so we decided this would be a great place to let loose. It didn't hurt that the psychology department from Notre Dame was hosting a dinner in one of the pavilions, so we didn't have to pay the parking fee!! I must say that it seemed funny to me to see all of the family BBQs going on in the different pavilions, and then to look over at the one ND had reserved...white table cloths, chafing dishes, pitchers full of ice and beverages (rather than soda cans). Just struck me as funny. Aside from that humor, we had a great time.

St. Joseph river

Cute husband.

Walking to the river.

Zach and Chayce looking at the river (St. Joseph)

Payge...I'm sure she's thinking, "What? Why that camera again?"

Zachary and Chayce found a caterpillar to play with while we were walking. They tried to be gentle with it, but of course it left a deposit on them, it's not like caterpillars take the time to find an appropriate place. We didn't think much of it (it's happened to all of us, right?) until the following conversation took place:
Chayce, "I'm going to keep him until he turns into a butterfly...Mom, can I keep him? I'll find him a branch and some leaves...and...and..." Zac (interupting), "Chayce, that caterpillar will never turn into a butterfly. When I was holding him a few minutes ago, all of his butterfly parts came out. Poor thing."