Ruffner Mountain Field Trip.

Fawn's 4K class took a field trip to Ruffner Mountain at the beginning of October. Each child took a parent with them, so it was a nice way to meet Fawn's new friends and their parents. We are in a class with a lot of new children this year. We were both really excited about this field trip -- we love hiking at Ruffner Mountain but haven't done it much post-Small Fry. We rode up there with our best buddy T and his mom. They are the best company!

Fawn and T spotted the maps as soon as we arrived -- of course! Those boys are obsessed with maps. In fact on the way they were both mesmerized by our iPhone maps. They started the map trend and soon every child was clamoring for one.

So proud and ready to hike.

As with most field trips, it was a bit of hurry up and wait. We got there right on time only to wait around for the field trip to actually start ... and on this morning, boredom made for pretty hyper children. Fawn was happily sporting his camo hat -- he's "camo cool" as I like to say.

T photo bombed our selfie.

Our class went inside the nature center first, and Fawn loved all the reptiles. I had to get a picture of him with this rattlesnake because he and daddy killed two rattlesnakes at the farm the weekend before.

Then it was hiking time. They put all the kids in the front of the line with the grown-ups trailing behind. It was a good thing for us because Fawn was in no mood to listen to me, but did great for the hike leader. As my friend told me, Fawn is a creature of structure and this kind of morning is not the most structured for him!

After our hike we ate sack lunches and hung out with Fawn's buddies and their moms. These are three of his new friends in his 4K class. They are sweet, sweet boys who have quickly befriended Fawn -- such a blessing!

Silly face time!

Fawn had what can only be described as a major meltdown leaving the field trip. He LOST HIS MIND. Looking back it was a combination of many factors -- we had to head back to church to pick up our babies from MDO and he thought others were staying longer, we didn't have a map to take home, the children were running around like crazy animals and leaving stopped that fun, plus the whole lack of structure element. He quickly got it together and truly seemed to have a change of heart and understand why his behavior was not okay. We stopped at Sonic for a drink because everyone needed a pick-me-up. Soon after, I heard from T in the backseat that he needed to go potty NOW. His mommy told me to just go ahead and pull over. Lucky for us, we were on my brother's street. So we stopped for a little potty break in his front yard.

These two are too much. My brother and his wife thought I was kidding at first, but then Ben said "Yep, that's my tree." Uncle B and Aunt A's yard to the rescue.

So the last field trip of preschool is in the books. While at first I was disappointed that it wasn't the picture-perfect morning I envisioned, looking back there was much more good than the few moments of disobedience and meltdown. It was a nice morning overall, and I'm learning each day how to take things in stride with children -- and not let overwhelming expectations get me down. Kids will be kids -- they don't regulate their behavior based on the sentimental value of the moment. They just are who they are -- at all times. As a grown-up, I could learn something from that. And, I'm learning to not expect too much of my children; they are still babies. And, in situations where normalcy and routine are thrown out the window, I need to learn to relax just a bit more. It seems that Fawn isn't the only one around here who is a creature of structure. Pot, meet kettle.