Family fun...in which "fun" is a relative term

Last weekend we took the boys hiking. After tons of rain, busy athletics and drama schedules, and work work and more work, we needed to get outside and do something together. And by "together", I mean all of us in the same location, since Hamlet was rarely within sight of us. Something about being grounded brings out the pissy side of him, I guess.

We looked in our copy of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of St. Louis for somewhere near to go. We get stuck in our rut of Marquette Park and never get much of anywhere new. Cliff Cave County Park got the nod. After all the rain we've had lately, it had some pretty muddy parts.

Cliff Cave County Park

We didn't see any sinkholes, and there weren't any rocks to climb on (a favorite activity of all my boys), but we made some fun where we could. Tarzan lives!


Cliff Cave County Park

Early on in the hike, we've already lost Hamlet...

Cliff Cave County Park

Making our way down a steep, slippery slope to see the cave...

Cliff Cave County Park

The cave (you can enter if you get a permit)...

Cliff Cave County Park

Three boys, one smile...gotta love teenagers...

Cliff Cave County Park

Trying to splash us by throwing rocks into the water...

Cliff Cave County Park

It was a great day to be out, though the boys did their darndest to change that. Hamlet and his silent treatment were annoying, and then Junior spent the first 75% of the hike throwing a fit about having to carry his own water bottle. You're six, buddy, time to buck up. That said, you notice that, in the later pictures, I'm the one carrying it. He wore us down.

Even so, I think we did an awfully good job of staying positive and ignoring the attitudes. Trying to act lovingly to them even through their behavior is a struggle I lose all to often. Score one to the good.

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