A Trip To the Park

Spring break this week. Took the kids to the new indoor playground. They had a blast! It is SOOOO cool to see my kids having fun on something that was just a figment of our imaginations not so long ago. Just too, too neat. Quinn and Colby are technically "too old" for the park, as it's supposed to be for kids four and under, but... there are some benefits to being on the design committee ;). I think this is probably the one and only time they'll be able to play, so I took lots of pictures. Bear with me.

Strategery

Rob is fufilling a life-long dream this evening... teaching his boys to play chess. I heard him say the following:

Dad: "Boys, this is the best game you will ever learn. It is analagous to life. You must always be thinking one step ahead."

Quinn: "Uhhhh, what?"

Still, they're catching on, and attending really well. I have a sneaking suspicion it's because chess uses the words "knight" "castle" "king" and "kill" alot.

I've gotten a kick out of Colby giving Quinn pointers.

Colby: "No, Quinn, don't move there, or you'll be in check."

Dad: "Listen to Colby! He's telling you right!"

Quinn: "But if I do that, I wont' kill anyone!"

Dad: "You can't just move the pieces any way you want. They have to move in their certain ways."

Quinn: "But I want to kill someone!"

Colby: "Quinn, you better listen to me if you want to win. I know how to play chess. Daddy told me."

Later.....
Dad: "Quinn, look carefully. Don't you need to move this rook? Better move it, or else I'm going to get him with my castle. Quinn, you need to listen to me, or else he's going to be killed. What are you doing? You need to move that rook....."

In the mean-time, while Rob is sermonizing, Quinn takes his Queen and captures Rob's castle. That shut Rob up.

Dad: "You little bugger."

They're five years old and they already know more about chess than I do. Dad's in heaven. He's been trying to teach ME for twelve years. FINALLY he has worthy opponents.

The Fearless Duo

There are some benefits to having children with absolutely no sense of fear. Yes, we end up in the emergency room alot. On the other hand, it gives us considerably more options when teaching new motor skills. We're proponents of the "crash and burn" school of development, if you will. Want them to swim? Drop them into deep water. Ride a bike? Take them to the top of a hill and let go. We practiced riding a two wheeler all of 30 minutes today, and they're already doing FANTASTIC. It won't be long before they're all over the place on those things!!! Way to go boys!!!

The Treehouse

I know that it's certainly not MY park, but I do feel awfully proud of this adorable little piece of the earth that some very dedicated people put together. Definitely something our community's children have needed for a long, long time. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was today, and I literally had tears in my eyes. These pictures hardly do the space justice. You wouldn't believe the amount of "oohing" and "aaahing" we heard today. I have discovered alot about myself during this project... that I love dreaming up ways for kids to play, that I can be a bit obsessive (understatement), and that I am decidedly NOT an engineer, a fundraiser, a negotiator, an artist, or a seamstress, by any stretch of the imagination. Thank goodness there are others who are!! I AM a physical therapist who loves kids, and wants them to have a place to run, jump and swing, even during these long, dreary, northern winters. So here's to The Treehouse!!! Let the children play!

The Great Melt

Mud Season is upon us, a bit early this year. That's hunky-dory with me. This past weekend we were cross-country skiing in the snow, and yet tonight we had our first outdoor BBQ of 2010, complete with boys running around barefoot in shorts. Laundry loads will double, showers will triple, but it's all okay because the sun is shining and we're no longer stuck indoors!!! HALLELUJAH!!!

Slush Skiing

Inspired by yesterday's race, the family skiied out in the woods behind our house. There's not too much snow left, and what little there is of it is rather slushy. That's GOOD NEWS by my standards. I even saw some daffodils popping up through the soil. Spring is on the way!!!! I can't wait!!!

Junior Bearchase Ski Race

The boys had their first official ski race today, in hot pursuit of a wayward bear in the woods! I was at work all day and missed the fun, but Dad reported that both boys finished and earned ribbons, despite the major crash at the bottom of the first hill! Quinn came in 5th place, and Colby 8th place. Not too shabby, boys!!! You can view results here: http://www.superiortiming.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/JUNIOR_GREAT_BEAR_CHASE_AGEGROUP.HTM

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Headed Home

Typhoon Lagoon

The weekend was spent recuperating from Disney, with a little shopping, church, and more swimming at the pool. Monday was our warmest day yet (74!!!), and we took full advantage by going to Disney's Typhoon Lagoon waterpark. Fun in the sun and sand. The pictures say it all.