Surprising nature discovery

I have mentioned how I enjoy checking out nature with the girls.  There is just something so awesome about God's creation that seems to fascinate me, even though bugs still gross me out.  At times I get so excited, and I really can't explain it, when I discover something new, or see something start to grow.  It just stirs something up in me and I need to share it with the girls and the rest of the family.  That is one reason I enjoy trying to grow a garden.  The joy and awe when I see the evidence of new life sprouting from the earth from what seemed to be a dead seed is such a witness of God's amazing creativeness and power.

Today's discovery was just as awesome and quite unexpected.

If you are not sure what this is, here is hint: What critters dig complex networks of tunnels underground, carrying the dirt up to the top and make hills.  If you said ants you are correct.  These ant hills were discovered in a surprising place by my son this afternoon.  

He moved the basketball hoop and they were underneath!

It had been sitting in the same spot for over a year.  We were shocked to see the paths the ants had made on the surface of the ground. 

The ants didn't appreciate being disturbed.

We took the girls out to see the ant world when they woke up

We used a stick to try to cut the hill in half.  There were no ants in the two mounds themselves, but we were able to view a few ants scurrying around as we poked and prodded.  Poor ants...

Oh, why didn't we notice this when we were doing U lessons.  Oh well, it was still really interesting and now we are tempted to get an ant farm.

(Cool, I just noticed I can click on the pictures and they are able to be viewed larger.  I have seen this on other people's blogs, but mine weren't doing that.  If you can click on these pictures you can get a much better look at the details)