Sandy Beaches and Messes

I do not like to be messy.  This should not come as a huge shock to anyone.  I've never really been very outdoorsy either.  I think it's that I don't really like bugs, wild animals, dirt....I could go on.  Heber claims it's because I never found an outdoor activity that I really loved.  He swears that if I got to really like skiing that I'd love winter and snow.  I'm not so sure.

Last week, the kids and I met some friends at Mason Neck State Park.  They have a great playground and kid friendly walking trails.  What more could a mother of toddlers want?

Just off the path, there was a trail that led to a beach and right out onto the water.  I had packed everything we would need for such an event, but had left it all in the car.  Great.  I still let the kids wade into the water and play.  The funniest was watching Amy in the water, she is quite the little fish.  I better get that girl into some swimming lessons.

 

There was sand everywhere but we made it work.  It's not worth passing up these sweet memories to contain the mess.  This is a metaphor for parenthood, I think, to surrender to the mess and enjoy the exploring.   You should have seen the utter joy on their faces.  What's a little sand or a messy face?


It reminded me of a time that we went to Bear Lake a couple of years ago.  Leo was about Amy's age now.  We went with a whole group of friends and watched the little ones toddle around in the sand.  So many good memories.  

A Park Lover

I know a lot about parks.  Which ones have shade, which ones are always crowded.  The ones best for different ages of kids.  I never thought I'd know this much about parks.  We lived in Logan for 9 years, I can't name more than one playground structure in the whole town.

Oh how life changes when you have kids.

I don't particularly love going to the parks but you know what makes it worth it?  Leo's face.  He lights right up when we're there.  It doesn't even have to be a big impressive one.  There's a structure by our house that is just a slide.  He drags Heber over there every night before he will go to bed.

We went to a new one this last week down in McLean that was so fun.  Leo had his first experience with riding a carousel.  Best time ever.  He laughed and said wow over and over.  It's these little moments that make it all worth it.