my favorite playground

my favorite playground growing up wasn't one with monkey bars and see-saws, but one with fallen trees and stepping stones. i was lucky to have The Nature Center just around the corner, and spent many afternoons tromping around, exploring nature, finding treasures and getting muddy. now, as an adult, my favorite nature center activity is running on the miles of trails, winding my way through woods and prairies, crossing streams and circling ponds. it's peaceful and beautiful in the way only the open land of the midwest can be.

this past thanksgiving brought the 2nd Annual Turkey Trot, an event that is simply friends and family getting together in the cold morning air to walk, run and trot our way through nature before sitting down to heavy meals of sausage stuffing and pecan pie. the energy, smiles and "it's so good to see you!"s always make it worth getting out of a warm bed. here are a few of my favorite snapshots from the Turkey Trot and another early-morning run i took with my mom while i was home.