parks | matching tracksuits

Sunday Downtown

Sunday 11 November 2012

We never made it to Falls Park during our walk yesterday, so the family decided to start there today. I would have guessed, were someone to ask me, that we were too late to get much of an autumnal view, but I was happily mistaken.

This time, though, we took the whole family, including our one-and-a-half tooth Wonder Boy who seems willing to smile at just about anything.

The Boy's smile probably had something to do with my wiggling fingers and silly face, but with colors like this, though, who could resist a smile?

As we headed into the main downtown area of the park, the sun came out fully and consistently, making the Peace Center glow. We, though, were less glowing, especially the Girl, who had by then adopted an all-too-familiar refrain: "I'm hungry."

Nothing is quite as filling on a fall day as an ice cream cone,

and it never tastes as better than when outside. Or so someone told me.

Trails

Wednesday 11 July 2012

This summer vacation provides me with the first real opportunity in a long time to spend a great deal of daily time with the Girl. As such, I try to do something out of the ordinary with her every chance I get. It’s a good reminder for her of her continued importance in our family despite our shift in attention during the last eight weeks.

Today, we try a new path at a park fairly new to us. We’d explored the north side of the park’s trails; today, we hit the south side, sounding out signs as we marched.

It’s an odd trail. To the right we see a lake and accompanying wetlands — a vision of nature’s riches.

To the left, a view of humanity’s poverty: trailers and virtual shanties. It’s an odd combination, made even stranger by the fact that one of the old homes has a BMW in the driveway. Perhaps a question of priorities: one’s peers don’t have to see one’s house, but one’s car is always on show.

At the end of our walk, an observation point that juts out into the wetland area made even wetter by the copious rainfall of the last few days.

We sit for a while, sharing a pack of crackers and sipping on water, careful not to litter (“The wind could blow the plastic away!” someone explains) and commenting on the various blooms reeds.

During our hike out, with the Girl clasping her hands behind her back, there’s only one thing to do: let her lead.

A Walk in the Park

Sunday 22 January 2012

After a day spent indoors, we were all in need of some motion outside. A damp, gray sky and cold air conspired to keep us inside -- we all are fighting illness in one stage or another -- but the promise of a warming walk won out.

We headed downtown, to Falls Park, with its cantilevered bridge and short, riverside paths. It had been months -- probably over a year -- since we'd been to that particular park, and it seemed there was a new attraction there: an entire fleet of bench swings.

And the Girl made a valiant effort to swing on every single one.

The swings certainly weren't the only attraction. There was a fascinating tangle of roots,

several dozen rocks begging to be tossed into the swift current,

and an alligator that sneaked up on Mama and almost gobbled her up for a late afternoon snack.

Eventually, everyone needs a late afternoon snack, though.

Long Weekend

Monday 06 September 2010

A three-day weekend allows us to do things we wouldn't ordinarily do over the weekend. Trips and mini-vacations come to mind on Labor Day weekend, but we elected to stay at home. A hurricane brewing and a coughing daughter made us cancel our plans of camping at the beach, so we did things out of the ordinary.

Like go to Target.

L spent her own money, which Nana and Papa (from whom else would she have received it?) had intended the money for our trip to Polska. She'd received so many gifts -- from friends, family, and a particularly sneaky godmother -- that we simply didn't encourage her to spend it.

Now the encouraging begins. What to buy? So much cash, so many princesses, so little parental support. In the end, she went with Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. The classics.

We finished Saturday at the park, with K and I musing how much she's grown since the first time we went to this neighborhood playground. Saturday she ran wildly, losing sight of us and popping up here and there giggling. Our first visit was cautious: no running without knowing where Mama and Tata are. No climbing without a protective hand on the bottom. No swinging without a toddler swing seat.

The follower has become the leader. "Come on, Mama!" she cried out when we went to the empty baseball field. "Chase me! Catch me!" We can still catch her, but it's not a question of three quick steps and swoosh! she's in our arms.

She's become a moving target, with a sure, steady gait and a strong sense of independence.

As she sat, talking to Nana and Papa, the "I can see her as a tween, as a teen, as an adult" moment washed over me all over again. The independence, the quick feet, the willingness to explore: all these things indicate the inevitable, but we so infrequently notice it.

Sunday, we headed back to the park, but this time, a large state park with a couple of lakes, a few miles of trails, and plenty of rocks for climbing.

And boats.

Blue boats.

Blue glittery boats.

"The only thing that would make this more perfect," I suggested as we neared the paddle boats, "would be for the sparkles to be pink."

"Right!" came the response.

Where did this love of pink come from? Pink is the stereotypical girl color, and we have in fact tried to avoid purchasing pink clothes for her. Yet pink remains the eternal runner-up in the "my favorite color" contest.

The only way to make the day more perfect was a picnic. "A picnic!" L cried. "I'm so happy!"

With aÂ mayonnaise-cheese sandwich (what odd taste little girls can have) and all the watermelon she could eat, she certainly had cause for joy.

The walk that followed somewhat damped that joy. "I want to go home!" was a common refrain,

until we reached a small clearing with plenty of rocks for skipping ("making ducks" in Polish) and general tossing.

As might have been expected, L modified the previous refrain, adding a quick "don't" when we suggested it was time to go.

But we were all tired, and bedtime was approaching. Only the princesses were still on their feet.

Dads in the Park

Monday 08 June 2009

Two fathers with unorthodox hairstyles in the park last weekend.

Digging and Playing

Sunday 26 April 2009

A busy weekend. L's confirmed cat allergy necessitated the re-thinking of our cat situation. She how sleeps in the basement. (The cat does, not L.) Part of the solution involved a cat door, but where to put it? Simple: in the basement window. That involved creating a framed enclosure for the door -- yesterday's project. There's still a shelf to be built on the outside portion as it's too high for convenient entry.

Sunday was planting day. Squash and melons. The squash looks heartier than the melons. In fact, the melons, while healthy, look almost miniature compared the the hefty squash plants. Don't worry, melon -- you'll catch up and surpass your neighbor in our improvised front garden.

The day ended with another first for L -- her first train ride. With beautiful weather and a jolly conductor, we were certain it was going to be a big hit.

L sat waiting, watching the train make a circuit and excitedly talking about getting on the train.

Once she boarded with K, though, it was a different story

It's something we should have expected, for it happens often enough. We could have prepared her: it usually helps if she knows what she's expecting.

Still, the swinging, running, sliding, jumping, and general frolicking undid the anxiety.

Ice Cream and Dancing

Monday 09 March 2009

There are few things in life the Girl likes loves more than ice cream (a new love) and dancing (an eternal love). We had a little outing Sunday that included both.

We began at the Marble Slab Creamery, where freshly made ice cream is mixed with just about anything -- by hand. L wanted "pink ice cream," which left our options somewhat limited. Fortunately, she's wild about strawberries, and strawberry ice cream turned out to be equally popular.

She savored it.

Afterward, we wandered down to the main park, where, unbeknown to us, there was an Irish festival (St. Patty's Day and all...), which included dancing -- sure to hold the Girl's attention.