Sprayground Season Subsides

Like most public pools, the local spray grounds are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. That means this is the final week for us to enjoy free water fun. I suggested a playdate to Nevin Park, which continues to be my favorite sprayground. Unlike the last time we went, we were the only people there for the first fifteen minutes. The large canopy provided such generous shade that it was actually pretty cold.

Jackson was initially enthusiastic and headed straight for the fountains. He was immediately blasted with cold water. It took him over an hour to recover. He wrapped himself up in a towel, sat in the sun, ignored his friends, and ate graham crackers. Amelia and Maddie refused to touch a drop of water. In fact, she preferred to seclude herself behind the stroller. The trio played with one of Jack's playmates, who is a little mother's helper in training. Contrary to the girls, James frequently crawled full force directly into the water. I don't know when children begin to understand cause and effect, but James certainly has not. Each time he'd go into the water, he appeared genuinely shocked that he became soaked. I took better pictures of Jackson's friends, who were actually playing in the water, than I did of my own kids.

The spray grounds are completely separate from the playgrounds. Today was the first time we checked out the playground. It was a huge hit. The entire playground was car themed. There was a track, car equipment, a wall of carved out tools, etc. Jackson had a smile on his face the entire time!

Since I hadn't planned on going to the playground, I didn't bring shoes for the trio to wear. They still pulled up, crawled, and climbed. The toddler playground is completely covered in rubber surfacing, which makes it so much easier for the babies to get around. Today was probably the first time James, Amelia, and Maddie actually played independently on playground equipment. One area had shallow, winding stairs that the trio loved. There weren't any drop offs so they could never have fallen more than one step. (For the record, I knew they were fine because each of them can go up and down the single stair of our landing at home). I just had to stand guard at the slide to make sure they didn't tumble down. It was a lot of fun!

This park is definitely on my list of places to take the trio after I drop Jackson off at preschool. This is the first playground I've found that can safely accommodate multiple toddlers without requiring multiple adults.

Freedom Park with Friends

Conversation with Jackson and I in the van:

J: Are we going on an adventure?

Me: Yes, we're going to the park.

J: What park are we going to?

Me: Your favorite park!

J: Tell me.

Me: It has an obstacle course.

J: We're going to the obstacle course park! Will my friends be there?

Me: Yes

J: Yay! I love my friends.

It literally took all summer, but Jackson finally considers his regular playmates his friends. As much as we love Freedom Park, we had even more fun with friends. Jackson immediately ran to the obstacle course upon arrival. It's impossible to capture it in one photo, but I found an aerial diagram of the NFL course.

The trio were hesitant to explore their surroundings.

They warmed up to the only girl of the preschool group who happily played peekaboo with them.

It's hard to get the boys to pose, so I was elated to get a semi-decent shot at the end of the course.

After running, climbing, and spinning at the obstacle course, we walked around the lake. We planned ahead for a picnic lunch.

The boys fed the ducks and looked for turtles.

Our next stop was a more traditional playground. Jackson recharged after a bit of quiet solace in a tunnel.

Finally, the kids played in the train. It was endearing for me to watch Jackson actually initiate play.

James reclaimed his title as resident wagon napper. At one point he swayed to the other side. Maddie kept poking him and laughing.

It was another gorgeous day with great weather and company. I'm curious to see if Jackson will continue to strengthen his friendships once our playdates become less frequent. Preschool resumes next week and the babies need their afternoon naps. I'm not sure that we can maintain our social calendar. Either way, I'm enjoying our time together this week!

First Day of School

As a stay-at-home mom, the first day of school simply means we can enjoy our favorite kid-friendly spots without the crowds. I didn't have any emotional breakdowns or jealousy about not being in the classroom. We stayed busy with Maddie's PT this morning and a playdate at the park. I recently blogged about how challenging this park is with the babies. I am so happy to share that the wagon tackles the gravels trails far better than any stroller. We had a much more positive experience.

The weather couldn't have been more pleasant, with temperatures in the 70's and relaxing breezes. I still got a workout in by pulling over 50 pounds of children up and down hills, but I wasn't drenched in sweat from heat.

We met at a smaller park that I didn't know about. It was between the lake and a parking lot. There were covered picnic benches away from the aggressive geese, which meant the kids could actually sit down and eat their snacks. 

Most of the kids are preschoolers like Jackson, but there is another sweet girl close to the trio's age.

My mom friends and I chatted while the kids played on the playground. After a while we walked around the lake, skipping rocks and looking for turtles and tadpoles underwater. Jack and his friends played on the rocks. We took bets on who would have a meltdown before we left based on how hard they were running and climbing.

We utilized our bread stash we keep in the van. (You never know when you might come across some hungry ducks and geese.) Jackson and I passed out slices to his friends so they could all feed the geese.

By this point we had been at the park for two hours. Poor Maddie is always exhausted after PT anyway. She could not keep her eyes open.

I walked back to the van, pulling all four children. Jack and I had a low key afternoon playing in his room while the trio napped.

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Jesse's First Day (dictated by Jesse)

Each class has 30-34 students

My first day was alright. It was a lot different from high school, much more different than I thought it would be. The kids are given a lot less responsibility, but they probably can't handle it yet. I don't think I've ever eaten in the cafeteria before. I've certainly never been on the bus lot before. I've never had to deal with lockers. It's unfortunate that I have to do that.

I liked meeting the kids. They're talkative. I really like my colleagues. My team has been very supportive and helpful. As far as materials, there's nothing I could want that I don't have. It should be a good year once I get used to things.

Latta Park

Today we ventured out to meet a friend for a picnic at Latta Park. We got there an hour earlier to take advantage of the spray grounds that close in a few weeks. I loved how close the spray ground and playground were to one another. The park had great visibility and felt very open, even though it was nicely secluded from the nearby neighborhood and busy roads. 

This was the first time I allowed the trio to play in a spray ground. I dressed them in a swim diaper and swim shirt. Several people commented on my "three boys". The girls were curious from afar. Amelia was very cautious and skeptical about the water shooting up from the ground.

I put all three of them inside the gate to feel the water. Amelia immediately cried and crawled away. Maddie was happy to splash in a large puddle and clap.  James was more daring and continued to crawl straight into a fountain, then back to dry land.

It took Jackson a bit of time to really get wet. He had a lot of fun weaving in and out of the larger fountains.

James repeatedly crawled in and out. He seemed genuinely surprised each time he became drenched by the water.

I eventually collected the babies and put them on a blanket in the shade. I dried and dressed the babies while Jackson began climbing on the playground. We ate once my friend arrived. The four kids snacked on a banana, can of mandarin oranges, yogurt, protein bar, and veggie straws. 

I let the babies explore the playground, which inevitably resulted in Maddie and James putting mulch in their mouths. 

The water and sun wore the kids out. We went for a long walk in the wagon on one of the park trails. 

Poor James couldn't resist sleep any longer. He didn't even fuss. 

James' three siblings joined him in napping in the van. I have such an appreciation for a quiet ride home.

Last Day of Summer

Our last day of summer vacation was nothing like I had planned or wanted. Jesse returns to work on Monday with workdays; then his students will return to school the following Monday. I had wanted to do something as a whole family, preferably something I cannot do by myself (i.e. go swimming, ride the train at the park, or take a day trip to the zoo). Unfortunately, Jesse was writhing in stomach pain after making one too many bad food choices the previous night. (Ever since we cut grains and sugar out of our diet, Jesse gets violently ill if he consumes excessive grains/sugar.) 

With Jesse out of commission, the kids and I were on our own. So much for our last summer day together. I don't do well around sick people and Jesse needed rest so our only option was to go out for the day. We headed to Frank Liske Park. Each time I decide to go to this park, I seem to only recall the beautiful lake, green rolling hills, multiple playgrounds, shaded picnic shelters, and open fields. I always forget how exhausting it is to push the stroller through the thick gravel trails, how aggressive the geese are, and how far the bathrooms are from the lake. While it's a gorgeous park, it will be more enjoyable when the kids are older.

I got everyone dressed and I prepared and packed lunches for a picnic. I couldn't help but laugh when I turned around to see Jackson eating the bread I packed for the geese.

The beautiful scenery did not disappoint. I can't wait to go in the fall when the leaves change colors.

For some reason Jesse took the wagon out of the van after the kids were loaded up. I was quite aggravated to open the hatchback and realize I only had the double umbrella and Ergo. This meant I had to carry my purse, lunchbox, and picnic basket, all while pushing the stroller. I refused to also carry our queen size blanket, which meant the babies had to eat on the ground. It was pretty gross (even for my standards), but they didn't mind.

Jackson ate his lunch lakeside.

After we fed the ducks and geese our bread, we walked around the lake. I noticed this sign for the first time. Eh...I guess the damage was already done.

Though Jesse would not have condoned it, I let the kids play on the rocks. Jackson climbed high while the trio mostly sat there and ate their graham cracker. I'm a firm believer that kids need to explore their surroundings and nature.

We refilled our water bottles and cups, took a restroom break, and played on the playground. In the last few weeks Jackson has really excelled at rock climbing walls. He climbed up and over this one for the first time.

James was very happy collecting and attempting to eat mulch. The girls were so tired they just sat on the sidewalk.

After a few hours of playing hard, all four were fast asleep within minutes of the car ride. I drove the kids to their MiMi and PaPa for a visit and to drop Jackson off for his first backyard camping experience.

Jesse had regained an appetite and strength when we returned home.

And that's how our summer ended.

New Routines, More Adventures

Jesse unofficially started back to work this week with workshops, benefits enrollment, and moving into his new classroom. He resigned from his former position teaching Civics and AP Government at a high school over thirty minutes away. He accepted a position as an 8th grade ELA (English Language Arts) teacher at a middle school less than fifteen minutes away. He is embracing new curriculum, new content, and a new age of students. 

Jesse is not the only one who is facing changes. The triplets are now only taking one nap a day. For several months they have been napping from 10-11:30 and again from 3-4:30. A few weeks ago they reduced their naps to 45 minutes each. We made the switch to one afternoon nap a day. We're still adjusting the times, but it is somewhere between 1-2 pm until 3-4 pm. Mornings are now brutally long if we don't keep the trio entertained. 

Jackson's new routine will begin in two weeks. Our big boy will be attending preschool three days a week (Tue/Wed/Thu) from 9-1. Jack is so school-oriented; I fully expect him to thrive with the additional day of school.

All of these changes impact me. It was a lot easier when I could toss tiny, sleeping babies into a double stroller and go about our day. Fast forward a year. I now have active, busy climbers and cruisers, who will soon be even busier walkers. I need to be able to give James, Amelia, and Maddie all of my attention while Jackson is at preschool.  This means I need to provide safe, engaging places and activities for the trio to explore. Of course, I'll also have to give Jackson individual attention while the trio nap. Somewhere in between I'll need to cook, clean, monitor all four together, and find downtime.

This week we have been easing into our new routines. I had gotten a bit lazy over the past several weeks, overly relying on Jesse to take care of diaper changes and loading the kids in their carseats. My personal goal for this week was to feel confident on my own with all four kids. I felt confident before the babies were mobile, but now they are surprisingly fast and move in all different directions. I am happy to report that we have had a lot of fun attending play dates and outings over the past few days.    

DPK with Friends

We met my former teammate, Lucy, and her granddaughter at our favorite museum. James, Amelia, and Maddie are each able to escape the infant area. James proudly discovered how to pull up to the water table. Amelia cruised up and down the small stairs and ramp. Maddie made friends with everyone she saw.

Lucy has a background in early childhood education, so she naturally filled the role of grandmother and preschool teacher extraordinaire.

We went upstairs to play with the blocks. It's so fun for me to see the triplets doing the same activities that Jackson does. Obviously they aren't building lego towers on the wall yet, but they are becoming little people with individual personalities.

Fire Station Tour
We left the museum early to meet our playgroup at the local fire station. It's taken all summer, but Jackson finally gets excited to go places with his friends. Truly, we go because I'm friends with the other moms, not because he's friends with the kids. He's still incredibly timid, but he regularly asks me "Will my friends be there?" One of my friend's nine year old daughter asked if she could push the double stroller. She even said, "I'd like to be a mother's helper."

Our tour began inside with the kitchen, beds, weights, and lounge areas. The firefighters led us outside to show us their gear.

Just as the men began to put on their suits, the station received two calls. Our tour was abruptly ended as we watched both firetrucks and an ambulance drive away.

Feeding Ducks at the Lake
I used to frequent this particular park a lot, though I've only taken the kids twice in the past few months. James, Amelia, and Maddie immediately scurried around the walled pier and pulled up to stand. I love when they stand like that without me having to pose anybody!

Once Jackson ran out of bread, the girls climbed up and down the wide stairs.  James cruised around the perimeter. They boys were so precious!

We had a snack at a large picnic area.

I know the novelty of shoes will wear off eventually, but for now, I think three little sets of baby legs and shoes piled in a wagon is one of the most adorable sightings ever.

Library

The park is beside the library, so we stopped by to pick up some requested books. I let the kids explore in the children's area. 

Jackson and James took turns flipping through the pages of an awesome Batman board book.

Can you tell they were getting tired?

I'm relieved to reaffirm my enjoyment for being out and about with the kids by myself. Going out is definitely harder than it was last year, but it's also a lot more enjoyable watching each of the kids make new discoveries. I'm already working on a list of adventures to go on this fall.