Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Parking

We took advantage of the sunshine and slightly warmer weather to take a trip to the park today. Not surprisingly, it was a pretty happening place. In addition to many of the usual suspects we see there on weekdays, there was a contingent of kids who would normally be in school who were there running, jumping rope and ball playing. Although my primary motive was to get Sophie and myself out of the house for a few hours, I also wanted to get outside and try out my new camera in natural light.

There are two large playground installations. One is obviously for smaller kids while the other is much bigger, with longer slides and more complex activities that are clearly aimed at older kids. After playing on the small one for some months, I thought we would give the big one a try. This is when I discovered that my little daredevil thinks she can fly. Standing on the platform at the highest level, she stepped off into the nothingness. Luckily, I was standing right next to her and caught her by her hood. If I had been a little slower or less attentive, or if my grip on her hood had been less secure, she would have fallen 8 feet or so to the mulch-covered ground below. It took a good 10 minutes for my heart to stop feeling like it was going for a world speed record. I think we'll hold off on the big playground equipment for a little while.
















We also spent some time on the swings. How I loved the swings as a kid. Going so high you thought for sure you could go all the way around. Flipping off at the highest point of the arc, legs kicking in the air before landing roughly in an awkward run. When I first started putting her on the swings, Sophie was a little nervous, she tucked her legs up next to her chest and pulled her arms in, like a cannonball, rarely smiling. Now she lets her arms and legs swing loose and spends most of her time smiling and laughing. Today was no exception.

The isolation of the stay at home mom is magnified during the wintertime when it is too cold to go out of doors. These lovely days will keep us sane as we forge on through to spring.

15 comments:

  1. Oh I am so totally jealous of your time at the park. I would so LOVE to take my kids to the park again. But sadly ours is still covered in snow and if not that mud.

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  2. How awesome! Thanks for sharing!
    Wishing you " A Happy 2009”.

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  3. Sounds like fun, except for the Sophie scaring the daylights out of you.

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  4. Kat fell off one of those high platforms once. Luckily, the ground underneath was that stuff they make from chopped up used tires, so, while it surprised her, she mostly just bounced back up. It took a couple of years off of MY life, though!

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  5. I LOVE the park... oh how I love it....

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  6. I really need to do this more ... but as a working mom, the last thing I want to do (or have time to do) is head out of my house.

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  7. The first thing I thought of when I saw your pics was the feel of baby fine hair and how soft it was. Such a long time ago for me. Sighhhhh. I miss those days. (but I guess not for too long, lol). Hopefully the big kids were respectful of the little kid areas. I hate when big kids are there. They are so disrespectful these days.

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  8. Oh so true (about the wintertime isolation feeling) - it is so lonely sometimes.

    Saturday was our weather reprieve with temps in the 60's - so beautiful and refreshing. It gives me hope for spring!

    Happy New Year!

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  9. In my experience, toddlers always want to enjoy the "big kids" stuff at the park. I am typically a nervous wreck because so much playground equipment has those drop-off's. It's shocking really.

    You and your new camera are producing great results (with a very cute subject).

    I am kicking myself for not taking my boys out on a walk today.

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  10. I think I like your camera! of course the ADORABLE subject doesn't hurt either!

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  11. I love how your pictures turned out. Please tell me what kind of camera you got. I am trying to figure out what kind I want to invest in. I think they turned out beautiful!
    How SCARY that sophie walked off the edge! Oh my Gosh! That is terrifying! They have no concept of getting hurt from stuff like that yet. You poor Mama!
    Yes...days like that are what keep us sane. It was warmer here today too. My kids got to play outside some, but I am telling you what...if school doesn't start soon, and that yellow bus does not come around that corner soon, I don't know how much longer I can keep it together!

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  12. Wish we lived closer...'cause the girls could play on our swingset while we sit and talk and eat and drink and discuss books and movies and such...

    It's a happy thought, huh?

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  13. It's nice you got to spend some time in the fresh air today! But yikes--I'm glad you caught her!!

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  14. The weather we have been having is crazy isn't it? Unfortunately I haven't been able to take much advantage of it with the holidays and family and all the craziness that is happening in our lives right now.

    I can imagine that being a full time stay at home Mom is isolating. I'm only a part time full time stay at home Mom (ha! does that make sense?) and I so love our Thursdays because that is playgroup day. Caffeine and gab for the Moms and lots of tiring activities for the kiddos.

    Hope you guys have an excellent New Years.

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  15. We've had a break in the weather, too. And we've been to the park the last two days. With my husband on vacation, it's far more enjoyable to take two with two parents.

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Give me some sugar, baby!