Field Trip #3-Matanza Pass

Matanzas Pass March 14, 2010.

After waiting in a long line of traffic for about 45 minutes, my family and I made it to Matanzas Pass Preserve, my husband, myself and our three kids. The kids picked the first trail to head off on. The picked the Calusa Loop. The oldest two wanted to go off and show Mommy, Daddy, and little brother the way, as if they been there before. They noticed the recycled boards that were used as a path. Way far up in the tree my youngest saw a bird's nest. He remembered once when my husband found baby birds outside without a mother and we nursed them every two hours. Unfortunately, they passed within a week. He was happy to know that this bird's nest was safe with probably a bird mommy.

As the walk went on Izaiah (9) my oldest showed us what plants he knew and how he learned about them. We then spotted animal tracks, we thought they were raccoon tracks. What do you think they were? As we went on, the kids found a nice little bench to take a rest. They were hearing bird noises and teasing each other that a bird was going to eat their ears. Noah (4) tried to flick his sister's ear like it was a bird getting it. We also say the prettiest purple pink flowers on our walk. Wonder what they are?

Our walk reminded me of how my neighborhood looked growing up. I grew up in North Fort Myers, Florida off Slater Road in farm country. My whole neighborhood was covered by trees like out on our walk today. The ground was covered in leaves. I remember my mom raking the leaves every weekend making a path to our house, and having to put them in the wheel barrel and haul them to the mulch pile. It brought back so man memories. My kids and husband could not believe that I did not have paved roads growing up except the main road.

We had been out there for a while and the kids thought we got lost so they tried to read the sign to figure out where w
e were at. Finally we made it back to the car and the kids took a break.
They took off their shoes and let the wind between their toes. My daughter Jayde (7) did not like the mud between her toes....aww the feeling of nature!