Wild Kingdom -in our front yard!

This morning after breakfast I had the urge to get everyone outside. Maybe the kids were getting antsy, maybe I thought we should get some fresh air before the heat of the day hit, or maybe...somehow...I knew that it was going to be a Wild Kingdom day right in our front yard!

Our first adventure was following a big black ant that was carrying a speck of white food. We watched him struggle through grass, summit mulch piles, and make the astounding vertical climb up a tree and into a dark hole. We then noticed that there were other ants coming and going from the hole which drove us to the conclusion that there is an ant home in there. This prompted many cute comments like, "Ants in there," and "Go home ant."

Then, we were amazed to find a big black ant carrying a dead bee! We thought he might be headed to the same ant home we had previously discovered, but after watching him head this way and that and back again for quite some time, we decided that he was lost. He was one determined ant though -he never once dropped that bee! Jack repeated several times, "Ant carry bee," with an intonation that conveyed some serious respect. :)

Finally, while we took a break to enjoy some watermelon and pretzels, Jack noticed this toad just sitting in the grass right next to us!

It's amazing what you find going on right under your nose when you stop and take notice!