Lessons Learned at the Park

Thanks to recent 'inspiration' I am attempting to spend more quality time with my kids. To that end, we loaded up bikes and the wagon and a few Happy Meals from McDonald's and went to the park today.

And it was a learning experience. Some of this I already knew - just needed to be reminded.

Princess Daughter on left. Tomboy daughter on right. 19 month old son in wagon behind camera.




What I learned:

Kids will not eat Happy Meals from McDonalds (even if dipped in chocolate) when playground is in full view.

There are two distinctive biking styles in my family - the Princess biker Vs. the Tomboy biker

the Tomboy – Zooms and Zips around, though, up and down
the Princess – Gingerly travels so as not to break a sweat and muse her hair. The helmet is a fashion statement and it's okay to unbuckle it if the strap is annoying - as long as she leaves it on her head.

The Princess – Mud – EUUWWWW
The Tomboy – Leave tracks through the middle
The 19 month old son – walk through and must touch!!!

The Tomboy Zooms up all hills so as to care-freely careen down the other side
The Princess gingerly pushes her bike up hill so as to gingerly coast downhill

In addition...
Mud depth and ickiness is directly proportional to distance from van - which was Deep and Quite A Ways.

Speaking of which - it hasn't rained in Texas in six months. So where did this mud come from?!

Wet wipes are worth their weight in gold

19 month old son will get bored in wagon. He will entertain himself by JOYFULLY ejecting all items from wagon.
Water bottle - out. Camera case - out. Water bottle BACK out. Sippy cup - out.
Water bottle Back out, AGAIN. Camera case – out, AGAIN. Water bottle – OUT, AGAIN!
(In this exact order…)

No matter how cool the playground is, how high the swing swings or how twisty the slide is, 19 month old boys will delight most in playing with wood chips. Sisters will delight most in annoying each other.

Regardless of how often and short you cut kids' finger nails, they will ALWAYS succeed in getting dirt/mud under them.

It is HOT in Texas in October. Pumpkins and sweaters in retail outlets are for display only. Be advised to continue to wear shorts, tank tops and SUN BLOCK!

Ducks - in public parks - are nasty!
Bathrooms - in public parks - are nasty!

Regardless of how sexy I think they are with flip flops and sandals - Toe rings DO NOT work with tennis shoes. Halfway around the lake – toe rings become pinky rings – sorry to everyone who had to witness the bare feet at the play ground. A necessary evil, trust me.

And when your Mother advises you to have two kids (instead of one) “back to back so you can raise them together and be done with it” - IGNORE HER! She did not have two COMPLETELY OPPOSITIONAL daughters 26 months apart and has NO IDEA what she is talking about!

So, we had a good time. Pink around the edges. Kids will sleep all night. And I am still chipping the mud off my ankles.

It's never dull...