Nature Scavenger Hunt

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CelebrateAmazingDads #CollectiveBias

I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by strong, supportive men my whole life. When I was young, both of my grandfathers taught me that God and family are the most important things in life. I can still hear one of them saying, "If you want time to play, you must first work hard." I will carry this, and many others lessons, with me forever.  This Father's Day, I want to take the time to make it extra special for a couple fathers in my life.  While there are many, I am going to focus on two.  They are Grandpa Zenner, who sadly passed away almost two years ago, and Pa, a tough man of 81 years who still smiles like a 15-year-old.

When thinking about both of my grandpas, I was amazed when I realized how similar they are.  So many characteristics that hold true for both of them.  Thinking about Pa and Grandpa Zenner, I took the short quiz below to find out just what kind of dads they are.  The Mr. Fix-It Dad!  I couldn't have said it better myself.  Whether it is a broken down car or a sad mood, both of them can fix it!  Take the quiz below to find out what kind of dad you have had the pleasure of being raised by.  

Grandpa Zenner...where to begin?  He was small in stature but large in personality!  His voice was loud, his stories were entertaining, and his laugh was infectious.  When he was taken from this earth, he took a piece of each of us with him.  Even being up there in age, he never knew when to sit down and relax.  He was constantly on the go, still driving truck, attending every event possible, and always taking time to help someone in need.  This year, our family will take a little extra time while visiting his grave to remember the great times we had with Grandpa.  Below is a picture of my children next to Grandpa's truck on the day of his funeral, his name on the door.  It truly was his, and everyone in town knew it as he drove down the road.  This is a photo that will always be near and dear to me, and I plan to do all I can to keep his memory alive for my children.

The second incredible man I want to honor this Father's Day is my other grandpa, also know as Pa.  As he gets up there in age, I am well-aware that time spent with him is precious and every moment must be cherished.  Living just across the field from us, we are always visiting him on the four-wheeler. He loves just watching and listening to my children, with a smirk on his face.  Even at age 81, he still gets down on the floor to play with them. He enjoys every second with them.

To be sure that we show Pa just how special he is to us, I visited the card aisle while at Walmart.  Now, in the past, I always struggled a bit finding the perfect Father's Day card.  This year, however, I was blown away!  

American Greetings has raised the bar and caused me to have a different struggle.  I had so many cards in my cart, I had a hard time choosing which one I liked the most!  They all did a great job saying just what I wanted to say.  I ended up selecting two perfect cards for two strong, amazing men.  A great way to #CelebrateAmazingDads!  Something I haven't mentioned yet is that my Grandpa Zenner loved NASCAR.  Who would have thought I would find a funny Father's Day card right up his alley?  Even though he will never open it, I can only imagine how he would have laughed if he would be here to do so.  

For Pa, in addition to a heart-felt card and a small gift, I wanted to give him something extra special.  I also wanted to do something that would help create memories for my children that will last forever.  And that is just what I did!  On a warm, Sunday afternoon, after grilling out with family, I sent Pa and his six great-grandchildren on a Nature Scavenger Hunt.  I'm not sure who was more excited, the kiddos or Pa.  

They were given the task of finding 16 things in nature.  While I watched, it definitely didn't matter to me if they found everything.  What mattered most were the smiles, giggles, and moments of success written all over their faces.  As they found each item, they had a little celebration as they crossed it off.  While they did find most of the things, they did have to get a little creative with a couple.  Thank goodness there were plenty of lawn ornaments to choose from.  A squirrel holding an acorn and a happy frog!  

This was such a simple activity, but they really did have a blast!  Just seeing the kids, walking around, holding Pa's hand brought tears to my eyes.  They don't realize it right now, but these are the moments that will live forever in their hearts.  Someday, they will look back and remember a strong but gentle man that held their hand in his.  Moving a bit slow, but smiling, laughing, and enjoying every minute.  You too can create memories of your own with this Nature Scavenger Hunt.  Check out the free printable and begin searching!

While combining this simple but fun Nature Scavenger Hunt and American Greetings, I know, 100%, that I created a meaningful Father's Day for two amazing dads in my life.  As I watched Pa walk through the yard with those little ones at his side, it was clear that he was having the time of his life.  He is well-aware that each of those sweethearts knows just how much he loves them and how much he enjoys spending time with them.  These photos that I captured will forever remind them of a strong man that loved them more than words can say.  

As for Grandpa Zenner, as he looks down from up above, I hope he knows just how much he is missed.  We think and talk about him often.  I still can hear his voice in my head, I still remember the important lessons he instilled in me.  My children do remember him, but I wish they could all sit down for one more story.  Just get one more hug.  

Take time this Father's Day to honor a dad in your life.  Make sure you tell them just how special they are with a card from American Greetings while making memories that will last forever!  I can't wait to hear all about it!  Be sure to share how you honored that special man in the comments below!