Uncle Jon's Visit

Chris's brother was in Iowa for a few days in August and drove up to Milwaukee to spend some of the time with us before returning to med school in California. His visit fell in the middle of the week, so Chris was not around for most of it. When I first realized this I panicked a little bit. Usually Chris's parents come visit when his brother does. This was the first time he was visiting alone, and with Chris at work, I was afraid it would be awkward. He, a MDPHD student. Me, a stay at home mom. How much could we really have to talk about? Then I realized that if this was one of my brothers, I wouldn't think about that at all. And just like that, I realized he is one of my brothers. And it doesn't matter if his interests and mine are completely different. We are family. Family should erase all of the boxes we put ourselves in, define ourselves by and lump us all together in the same box. The love you have for each other and for the other family members is the common ground you start with.

park-playing.

frisbee tossing on the beach.

ice cream eating.

Yeah, we had a good time. all by our selves.

Park Review:

We visited Possibilities Park in Port Washington (right on the lake, just north of downtown). It was a smaller version of the Imagination Station in Oconomowoc, so I was a little underwhelmed from previously visiting the Imagination Station. The great things about this park were: they had a water misting area to cool kids off, it was right by the lake with stairs down to the lake. The beach was very clean and the waves were big. I hadn't prepped for a beach day- no swim trunks or beach toys, but if we go back, I absolutely would. Bathrooms right next to the playground (Imagination Station had port-a-potties). Many picnic tables and grassy areas to run/play/picnic. Great place to spend an entire day: take beach stuff, picnic lunch, soccer ball, bubbles. Port Washington also has a historic light house to visit (but I think it's only open on weekends). Worth the visit. Oh, another fun tip. This park is not a traditional playground. It is geared more for imaginative play (and handicap accessible). I took a bag of dress-up clothes and Nate (and Uncle Jon) ran around like pirates (there was a pirate boat much like the one at Imagination Station) looking for sunken treasure. Nate shared his pirate hat with a handicap girl in a wheel chair. Her mom was so delighted, she called the grandparents over to take pictures. It was a great experience for Nate to play side by side with many handicapped children. So two thumbs up for that. And remember to take dress up clothes!

Park Review: Imagination Station, Oconomowoc

There was no way to capture the awesomeness of this park in pictures. The website did not do it justice either. Trust me when I say, it is a beautiful, unique creative park.

Best things about this park:

-HUGE!

-One entrance and fenced in (so kids can safely run free)

-picnic tables and tree shade outside of play area

-handicap friendly ( I loved this. There were kids in power wheel chairs that were playing side by side with my kids)

- bathrooms

Not-Best things about this park:

- No shade on actual play area.

- With all of the walls from the buildings and towers, etc. there was hardly a hint of a breeze in there- translation- go early morning or a night because IT WAS HOT in the afternoon sun!

-It is hard to eye-spy your kids. There are so many places for them to hide, and the playground is so big, with walls (solid structures that you can't see past). It takes more than 30 seconds to get a visual on kids. So it's just easier to sit by the gate and make sure they don't go out.

our guys on the right

It's hard to describe what made this park so magical. There were slides and monkey bars and swings and climbing things, like all typical parks, but the way they were incorporated in to the play ground was really fun.

This playground was brilliantly designed.I have never been to a playground that creatively inspired me, or that I could rightfully call beautiful. I mean, look at those green shingles on the tower in the first picture. Adorable! They were not a pattern painted on, they were individual singles. Every thing was so quality and done so professionally. I guess that's what I am impressed about the most. So many times people think, "they're kids, they don't care" and do a crappy, rushed job. Everything here was incredibly detailed and artistically done. I really am doing a terribly job of describing it. Wonderful park. Hope to go back and visit with Chris, even with the 50 minute drive out there.

Andy in a "secret cave" we found

Nate "swimming"

Think of a "rain maker" stick.

That cool sound it makes.

That's what this steering wheel did when you turned it.

Like I said,

they added so many little details to this place to make it truly magical.

I wish I had taken more pictures to capture all of the amazing details, but I got busy playing, and then spent the afternoon on the picnic bench catching up with good friends.

And we finished the day with gelato.

(think of that being said like, "and they lived happily ever after"... to me, they are pretty much the same thing ;)

Andy said more than once, " this is fun!" My friend turned to me and said, "and that's why we do this, right?". Her simple statement melted my heart. That is why we do this. We research fun places to take you, pack up the car, and drive an hour to play at a playground for that sweet smile and exclamation, "this is fun!"

I am so thankful to have good friends who are wonderful mothers and an inspiration to me. I am so thankful for two healthy, happy little boys who I get to spend my days playing with. In fact, I think I will go do just that.

Bird hunting

When I saw Nate crouched (and then starting crawling) like this, it did not take more than a second to figure out what he was up to.

"I almost had it, Mom"

Park Review: Indian Creek Park

Indian Creek Park is the park I blogged about on Monday. We returned again today, but with a camera, pirate swords and treasure.

I wanted to snap some pictures of our secret park for you guys (that's what we call it first, because we didn't actually know the name and second, it's not on the map! literally! third- no one is ever there. Pretty good evidence it's a secret).

"Big Playground"

Anyway, pirate swords. treasure. basically playing "capture the flag" with the boys (we picked up a friend on the way so we would have even numbers). So. much. fun!

I took my book again thinking I would sit on a bench and read while the boys play.

haha

haha

ha

Okay, let's be honest. Running around playing tag or hide and seek with a 2 yr old and 4 yr old is fun for about..... 30 minutes (and that's stretching it). We played "pirates" for 2 hours! And I had fun! Andy and I were the militia who were trying to seize the king's stolen treasure. Nate and friend, pirates. At one point Nate had a brilliant idea and hid the treasure box under wood chips. I would have never found it if he had not jumped on top of it when we were walking by the area.

(swinging monkey bars)

"Little Playground"

Okay, bloggers I want to hear:

HOW DO YOU MAKE PARK OUTINGS MORE FUN?

Mondays, 'sigh'

Mondays are hard.

The house is trashed.

Chris goes back to work.

Laundry is backlogged.

Today I found a miracle solution.

Have friends over.

When the boys are busy playing, I get my work done. We all stay busy.

We also went to another park today, but we went after lunch and it was just too hot. I think parks are banned to "morning only" for the most part.

It's in Fox Point. If you take Spooner to a dead end, it dead ends into the parking lot of the playground. I found this park when scouting out condos to rent this spring. It's a great park, with two playgrounds and a double drinking fountain (but no bathrooms). It's right next to Indian Creek which has a few bridges (which the boys love) and a gazebo on the playground (which the boys love). There are 2 playgrounds. The larger one being a big wooden structure with different types of things- a wobbly bridge, lots of slides, swinging monkey bars, the gazebo that is accessed from a rope-climbing wall, the wobbly bridge, or ladder. I think the boys like it so much because the gazebo is up in the air and they feel like they are going to a fort. It's really big too. Sorry no pictures. It was a spur of the moment thing. I will try to get pictures of it. And it's not labeled on a map, but you can see it in the following link.

http://www.google.com/mapmaker?ll=43.167844,-87.907703&spn=0.002246,0.004088&t=h&z=18&q=e+spooner+rd+%2B+fox+point&hl=en&gw=30

I started reading this yesterday

and really wished that I had brought it to the park with me. I am only 20 or so pages in, but I am totally hooked. (Thanks, Trudy).

Speaking of books, Chris reads this aloud on Sundays

we all love it. If you love the movie then you will looove the book. I really love snuggling up together listening to Dad read. I am trying to do a lot of "throw-backs" to earlier times. One being reading aloud with the whole family for entertainment. I will do a post on "throw backs" another time. You should try it. This is a great book to start with.

Friday during our pirate-prep I stopped at TJMaxx. The boys found these scooters in the toy section and followed me around the store. When I told them it was time to go, the said, "No, Mom! Keep looking!" I was pretty sure I was going to get kicked out of the store, but everyone else seemed to be as amused by it as I was.

I really hope these cars are not still there the next time I go because obviously they will expect it, and to be honest, it was really rude of me, and they did not yield at intersections or give right of way to pedestrians.