The trail eventually dumped us right back into a residential neighborhood and of course, we had no idea where we were.  Our first instinct was to head exactly in the wrong direction but not long after we started up the street, we found a resident and asked where we were.

It was hot, we were tired, we had no water or anything with us and now we were basically lost but it created an 'us against the world' situation that was very adventurous and a lot of fun.

We finally found our way back to the little park and after indulging in a few of the local cherries growing on the public land there, we headed home. 

On the way, we stopped at our favorite grocery store for steaks and other BBQ items in anticipation of a great dinner to end our day.  As we headed to the check-out line, Chase (age 5) stopped me and said he needed to get a "credit card".  Confused, I asked him what he meant by 'get a credit card'.  "You know," he said, "for Mother's Day."  "Oh," I said,  "a  greeting card."  John and the other kids were already in line but I took Chase over to the card section and he picked out a couple he thought were nice and asked me which I like best.  Upon careful examination of each (particularly the back), I made my selection and off ran Chase to catch up with the others proudly bearing his treasure for mom.

When we got home, we got busy preparing the dinner and in came Chase asking where he could find his 'credit card'.  By now you would think I would have known what he was talking about but it took me a few seconds to figure it out.   I got the card and he went to fill it out. 

Chase hasn't really started school yet -  he can write his name but that is all.  A few minutes later, he came back and asked me how to write "I love you".  I was so touched that he was going through all this effort of his own volition and I showed him how to write "I  heart  U"  on a piece of paper.   Again he retreated to his room.   A few minutes later he returned looking for his dad as he needed help to make the heart. 

As a mom, I just can't imagine a better Mother's Day gift than that which comes right from the heart of my little boy. 

Sunday was another great day.  After church we headed back to that broken down little park 40 minutes away just because we had such good memories of our time there the day before.  We didn't go back down the trails but the kids played on the swings, we ate cherries and enjoyed this wonderful stage of life that we will always remember fondly.