“Yay!” They all said at once.  “Let’s go find the tree house!”

And as soon as they greeted Gram, the four siblings scampered off into the woods behind her house.

“Wait a minute! Hold up! What in the world . . .” Cash stopped dead in his tracks and waited for the rest of them to catch up and see what he saw. Or, more precisely, what he didn’t see.

“Are we in the wrong place?” Kennedy asked, looking around.

Shiloh and Dempsey had continued ahead. “Oh no!” they exclaimed together. “It’s gone! Our tree house is gone!” Dempsey’s lower lip started to quiver. Shiloh scampered up on the big log at the tree house once rested on, as the others caught up and joined her.

They were all so sad and disappointed and confused. But Kennedy spoke up. “well I don't know what happened, but we still have our memories. Besides Gram told us there were more surprises deeper in the woods. I think it’s time we found out! What do you guys think? “

Trying to get over the disappointment, they reluctantly agreed with Kennedy but wondered how much better anything else could be then finding that tree house last summer.

So Kennedy, Cash,

Shiloh and Dempsey

took off deeper

through the woods,

wondering what they

might find.

Dempsey, seeing a clear path,

decided to take the lead.

Well, Gram was right. There were deer all around - more afraid of us then us of them.

But that didn't seem very exciting. The kiddos were hoping for some bigger findings.

They didn't have long to wait. Behind the next tree was . . . OH MY!

BISON!!

Quickly they all raced to the nearest tree!

Then when they decided the way was clear, the siblings climbed down and took off running.

Soon they came upon elephants! ELEPHANTS!

"At least there's a fence." Cash noticed.

"Ok, this is getting good!" exclaimed Shiloh. "Let's keep going!" And they all did, excited to see what's around the next corner (or tree).

And they were not disappointed!

"A horse! Can we keep him?" Dempsey pleaded.

Kennedy laughed. "Not on your life, bud!"

"Look, a barn!" Cash pointed.

They checked it out and -

oh my goodness.

The kiddos hit the "mother load"!