Creating a Monster

One of Matt and Susie's favorite family activities is Geocaching. What is geocaching, you ask? Well, basically, you log on to geocaching.com, set up a username, search for caches hidden in your area (or any area you please), and you go out and find them using clues and latitude/longitude coordinates given to you by the person who hid the cache. What's the cache, you ask? Sometimes they are just logs, where you sign your name and the date you found it. Others have fun little toys inside that you can take, as well as leave something behind. We asked them if they would show us the ropes and take us on a few cache hunts with them. So, armed with their trusty new hand-held GPS, lots of sunblock, a little water, a few snacks, and a load of kids, we set out to see what this was all about!

Our first cache took us out to a State Park close to Newton, where we had to navigate through some woods to find it. Well, ok, the kids and the Dads did the navigating, while Susie and I hung back and did the Mom thing--took pictures.

You can see Gianna carrying this one, which was an ammo box full of goodies. Some are as small as a large screw and have tiny pieces of paper rolled up inside them to log your name. The smaller ones are usually magnetic.

Once they got out of the woods, Susie and I once again did the Mom thing and made them all pose for a picture. Four kids excited about seeing what's in the box and this is the best you get:

The kids couldn't wait to open it and see what was inside...


And what did Cameron do while all this madness ensued? He stayed close to his phone, just in case he got any important calls.

Owen was the first to actually spot the box in the woods so Matt and Susie said that, being his first find, he should get to choose the goodie to take. He chose a star watch that came out of a Happy Meal.

I'm still holding out for the cache that holds diamonds in it but I'm told not to lose any sleep over it.

We had a great time and discovered a great family activity that's free and easily accessible. Well, if you don't count the cost of a GPS. However, Matt and Susie graciously left us their old one until we can find the funds for a new one with a Geocaching feature.

Cody is now obsessed with this and has spent nights on the computer trying to decide which is the best system to buy. He sometimes finds caches in the morning before he goes into work, on his lunch hour, and he and Owen go out a lot together. Cam is still kind of little for it so he and I don't go as much. Although we all went out last weekend for a bit and I found my first one. Ok, so it was in plain sight and I saw it before I even got out of the car but I'm still counting it.

Thanks to Matt and Susie for showing us a great time!