June 7, 2007
Let the Summer Begin! ... I guess.
Well, today is the first of an unending series of "park days" for the summer. Actually, I guess there was one on Tuesday, but I was out of town and I think it was cold and rainy here. I'm not sure. But we obviously didn't go.
But today's park date is one I'm committed to, being a long standing attender with a reputation for always being there. I'm part of the core, baby.
But I have to admit, at this very moment, 7:40 am on the first park day, I'm really not looking forward to it. I do this every year. I somehow perceive the hassle of getting all the park stuff ready as monumental, and the idea of being out in the fresh air and sunshine, instead of basking by the warm healthy glow of my monitor, as foreign and scary.
Plus, we've been in a pretty decent rhythm for school, chores, and exercise recently. Laid back, slow moving mornings, but making steady progress. The children have done really well in getting to their school work, and I've been consistently getting my workouts in. I don't really want to give that up for the faster paced morning rush of park days.
Seriously, though, I get to hang out with some of my best friends at the park. The park is all fenced in, with a little shallow pond and some sand, so the kids can get wet and dirty without getting lost. This year I don't have a newborn, but my youngest is old enough to play without me being 1 step behind, so I get the luxury of sitting on the blanket, watching the kids and talking with my friends. What could be better than that?
So I'm not sure what my hang up is, with not wanting to go. I think it's just figuring out which clothes to be the "okay to get dirty" park clothes and deciding whether to have them change into clean dry ones before coming home (requiring, then, two outfits per child for the trip) or what. I could do swim suits for them, but I don't want the nice swimsuits to get trashed by the muddy sand ... and then there's lunch, hauling a cooler and trying to remember to take fruits and veggies and hope nothing gets squarshed on the way there.
Writing that down seems like a lot of lame reasons not to want to go to a really cool thing. I'm sure I'll have a blast and be glad we went. I guess I'll start getting ready. In a minute. As soon as I sit here on my behind drinking my coffee, a little longer.
Maybe I'll take my new camera and manual and see if I can figure out the things that are confusing me. And if I get some cool pix, I'll share them with you.
Posted by Kim at June 7, 2007 7:32 AMI am sure it will be fun for all. It is way too hot here to do park in the summer. We are in the 90s all week with heat index in the 100s. I had said we would try the "free lunch" park thing but, man, it is just too hot.
Have fun today! And take some cool pics!
Becky
Kim, you just named all the "lame" reasons I give for not wanting to go to the park too, so don't feel that you are alone. Unfortunately, we can't make this one, because Grayson has therapy today. I have switched it to Wednesday for the rest of the summer so that we can go. Then I will have one less lame reason...
Posted by: Mama Mia at June 7, 2007 8:06 AM
I'm glad it's not just me. I give all those excuses for not doing field trip/park days too. We really do enjoy ourselves when we do go though. I make even MORE excuses to avoid women's group type things. I'm always convinced that I'll be the biggest dork and have no one to talk to. Which hasn't happened yet, but I'm a big practicer of avoidance.
Take your camera, I LOVE your pictures. You've got such a good eye for setting up shots!
Posted by: For a Season at June 7, 2007 8:22 AMI hope it's warmer and less windy for you than it is here, or you will all freeze out there today!
Posted by: Rosanne at June 7, 2007 11:18 AMHey, Sweetie Kim:
I see from Iliacat's email that ya'll are back from your park outing. Did you make it through, and have a good time after all? I can certainly empathize with the whole muster-up-the-energy-to-gather-everything-and-everyone. That's why we usually chose only one park day per week when we lived in town--and there were "seasons" of life when I couldn't even do that much.
I had to giggle about Iliacat bringing a book or project along, being a little too old for that park. I just know that B would be making mud pies and having a ball, despite looking every bit the teenager! She just LOVES to play.
Maybe we can try to make it there at least once this summer, at least for J's sake. Then when all the other sibs talk about it, he'll have a clue.
By the way, the girls and I will be in town next Saturday the 16th, for the matinee performance of the ballet show. And the whole family will be there the following Saturday, the 23rd, for Betsy C.'s graduation party.
Love and miss you guys!
Betsy
Posted by: Betsy at June 7, 2007 4:22 PMKim, I'm gathering from the previous entry that you did go. YAYYYY!!! I used to wish that we had a park day when my girls were little--Oh, wait--we did. Only my backyard became the park. And my bathroom became the public restroom. And my refrigerator got used to keep everyones' lunches from spoiling. (I think you get the idea!) Truly, I would much rather have gone to a park!!!!
Posted by: Theresa at June 7, 2007 5:48 PMHey my twin. I am with you on the park day thing. In fact I missed our Thursday park day because I did not want to interrupt Collin's nap. You know funny thing is Collin did not nap yesterday. LOL
It is all the getting ready that is the hard part. You will have fun when you get there.
So next time get everything ready the night before.
Enjoy the park days. Those are the fun things that you *have* to do.
Posted by: Shari at June 8, 2007 7:41 PMyes, we did go, and it was fun. Of course.
Betsy, I think Iliacat just gets frustrated being the only *older girl* ... I think she'd love doing all those things if she had a friend to do them with. She plays well with boys and is quite a climber / runner but doesn't seem to like being the only girl in a vast herd of boys.
I'm sure she'd love it if you can come up some time ... as would noodle & gark!
Posted by: kim at June 9, 2007 4:52 PM
