The other day we went over to “splash park”, a public park that has a great splash area open during the summer season. Luke even asked me as we were on route,’ “Is the splash part open?” to which I summarily said “no, it stopped a few weeks ago”.
Well, as we pulled into our parking space Luke goes, “It’s open, it’s open!”
We were the only ones there.
Our last summer hurrah! We want to Legoland!
One night in a hotel adjacent to the park, spent the day at the waterpark area, which for some inexplicable reason is not nearly as crowded as the area with the roller coaster-y rides and you know what? I was so excited and the kids had a blast.
Initially I was concerned there would not be enough for Lily to do or that she would be allowed to do, but no. We frolciked, we swan, we slid, we ate chicken tenders and burritos and had burgers via room service for supper.
The next day we went to a local North County San Diego area beach which was peaceful and delightful and came back, IN OUR NEW MINIVAN!
But THAT’S another story.
Luke is quickly becoming the person who needs more and more structure, and is becoming more and more independently minded.
He is incredibly independent at times, yet clearly needs to be help close and reminded of how much we love him. (who doesn’t need that?)
We went to the Santa Monica Pier Amusement Park and since Lily is too small to do anything other than the ferris wheel, I told Luke I would buy him a wrist band and he could go on anything he wants and Lily and I would wait at the entrance for him.
He went on every single ride, alone!
Love when two worlds collide in a child’s mind, so easy for a child, so hard for us adults.
Yesterday we went to the Aquarium. Luke’s favorite area was the shark tank where you can touch the bamboo and hammerheads. There is a person telling you facts about the sharks while you touch. One of the facts that stuck in his mind was that the sharks can hear for a distance of one mile underwater.
Today Luke built a robotic arm to add to his rocket ship (sometimes it is a Delta 5 and sometimes it is a Space Shuttle) He did the whole thing by himself, cutting the cardboard with his wood saw.
After liftoff I overheard this one tidbit
“Endeavor is now one mile above the surface of the earth where the sharks can still hear us”
It doesn’t get much better than that.
A forgotten wooden dowel becomes my second favorite multi-use, didn’t know you had on hand, childrens wonder tool, here’s why.
In the backyard, Luke finds a baseball, starts asking questions, wants to play and learn, I say OK, but we will have to get a bat in order to practice the hitting part. Luke asks what’s a bat is and I describe it. He pauses, thinks and disappears without a warning only to resurface with the dowel. So, then we practiced baseball.
Next up we are sitting and playing with Playdoh and I make the comment “Oh, if only I had a rolling pin…” and again, Luke stops, thinks and disappears only to return with the dowel, oh I mean, rolling pin.
Of course the most obvious use for the almost thrown out dowel, is a trapeze swing, simple elegant and fun.
Can’t wait to see what comes next.
But first prize goes to the never to be slept in, bought in a fit of “how will we ever survive the insanity of our child wanting to sleep in our bed and maybe he can sleep on a cot amazon purchase?”
Probably never to be used as a cot, but oh boy has it been used.
Slide
Bridge
Tunnel
Trampoline
and so, so much more!
This thing is great and Luke will forever find things to do with it, I am often astonished as to how it comes into play. First place for the “I didn’t know I needed it” kids physical playthings.