Jonathan & Esther: October 2013

10:00 a.m.: The time I decided Liam and I would walk down the street to the neighborhood park. I told him "clothes and shoes first, then we can go to the park!" It was quite the effort to convince him to walk upstairs so we could accomplish this mission, but after several conversations, a few trips back down the stairs, a few consequences, a few pauses to discuss where the dogs were and what they were doing, we made it up to his room.

10:30am: Liam was dressed in the perfect play outfit, complete with socks and shoes [see below]

10:40am: I shove necessary equipment (sippy cup, snack cup, water for me, park gate pass) in a bag while Liam is hanging on the door handle calling for the "ding ding" (garage door opener).

10:45am: After opening the garage door, Liam selects his ride to get to the park. He bypasses the usual toys with parent handles and the stroller and went straight for his Radio Flyer Trike. I thought to myself - this is going to take a while (30 min instead of 10 min trip each way?), but at least it'll be good exercise for him.

10:50am: We approach a house where a 3 year old girl and her mom are outside talking to a landscaper. Liam waves hi, so we stop to talk.

Liam slowly makes the progression to inviting himself over for a play date while I chat with his new friend's mom.

- goes in the garage and finds the toys

- follows the little girl in the house

- follows the dogs out into the backyard

- eureka! Playsets and rocks and tennis balls to throw to the dogs, and of course, a slightly older girl to follow around... Where were we going anyway? :)

11:30 - I decide we should not wear out our self-initiated welcome and would go on to the park (why? Why didn't I accept the gift of playtime only half way down the hill?)

Ah yes - because we had a beautiful time at the park from 11:40-12:10

Snacks upon arrival - but only after making it up onto the playset

"Swing" and "feet" (where he likes to be pulled up by his feet to get really high)

Funny :) "glunk glunk glunk"

12:15pm: Liam discovers the park fence gate is open and we quickly gather our things and head home - up hill.

- We cross both cross walks.

- Liam enjoys his trike down the tiny little

hill across the street, then quickly abandons his ride.

- we see a ghost flag by a mailbox. Interesting.

- "uh oh" someone left their newspaper in the driveway. Battle ensues when Liam tries to tote it all the way up to their house and then walk around on their porch.

- "look Liam, there is a flag ahead!"

- "look Liam, there is a bird house ahead!"

- Piggy Back? Followed by walking a few yards with him on my shoulders, while carrying the trike and our bag. "Look at mommy's headband!" Entertained for two driveways before I hear "Get down."

[wondering whether we will ever get home]

- "Look, Liam!"