A little beach in the city

Yesterday after work, Lester took the kids to Herring Run Park. They played a little on the swings - which is Clair's favorite thing to do. And then they wandered back to the wooded part of the park, where there's a trail, lots of good climbing rocks and a sandy area along the stream.


They played in and along the sand, and came home with sand in their hair.

They tossed rocks into the stream and made ripples.

 
And they overturned logs and planks, in search of bugs and wriggly things.  Here, Lester told me later, Clair had just touched a slug, then licked her fingers and made a smacking sound. {Shudder!}

All of this awesomeness (and grossness) -- just three minutes from our house!

Baltimore City: My love/hate relationship with you is heavy on the love right now, just because of things like this.

Playing (in) the field

Yesterday, Michelle came to work sore and hobbling. She'd fallen down the stairs that morning and hurt her back. She was fine to work, but had a hard time lifting Clair or doing too much more than basic care.

So even though it was one of the first truly nice spring days we've had since forever, I knew she didn't take the kids outside to play. Which meant that I was determined to get them at least some outdoor time before bedtime.

So as SOON as I got home from work, I threw the first hat I could find on Clair's unmade head, put the boys' play shoes on and drove them to the field across the street from their school. I forgot to even change my shoes, I was in such a hurry.

My shoes ended up covered in mud. Cary's pants are dirt-stained and ruined. I forgot to bring tissues so I had to wipe Clair's constantly running nose with the hood of her fleece. (No judgment!)

But it was totally worth it.

We kicked, threw and bounced their balls all over the field. We could be as loud as we wanted! And we pretended to be baseball players, standing on the pitcher's mound, and running around the bases. (Well, Dean and I ran around the bases. Cary ran diagonally across the field and Clair stood at 1st base and screamed, "Mommy, come baaaaack!")

 Batterrrrrrrup!

The kids spied a huge tree stump and said, "Can we climb that?" This is how Cary's light khaki pants got covered in tree-trunk-ickiness.

We walked to the stream and tried to throw sticks into it, but I got nervous about them falling to their deaths (or at least falling and getting wet and gross) in the stream, so we headed back.

And we left our mark on the near-empty field, so the world would know we came and we conquered.

On the way home, Clair picked up a dandelion, sniffed it and said, "Mmmm. Mells like oatmeal!" And I cracked up!

When I told my Dad later, he said, "What kind of oatmeal do y'all buy?" LOL.

At home, Lester threw the Dirty Dudes and Dudette in the tub, while I got dinner ready. The kids were STARVING and ate their food without any cajoling.  (Tip for getting kids to eat dinner: Withhold food until the last minute! #winning!)

And right after dinner, we tossed them in their beds and they were out like lights!

Bedtime was a little late because we didn't get home from the field until 7 and then we had to get all three bathed and lotioned and pajamed.

But I don't care. It was a great time out exploring and climbing and just doing whatever they wanted to do.

Can't wait for more days like this, now that this neverending winter finally seems gone for good.

Yay for spring!

Wednesday explorers

I left work early yesterday to go home and be with Clairzee.

But on my drive home, I took note of how absolutely beautiful the day was and how green the grass and gorgeous the pink on the trees. I came in the house and Clair's cheeks were cool for the first time in days. She was cheerful and energetic. She looked more like herself. I almost cried.

And then I decided right then and there that the boys needed to get out in this day more than Clair needed me to snuggle her. Lester was happy to stay home with her, so we threw some balls and bats in the car and drove around the block to Herring Run park and the fields across the street from the boys' school.

We kicked the ball a little, hit the tee ball a little, watched a bit of a girls' lacrosse practice and ran around in the grass and the sun and the flowers, without a care in the world.

Then we decided to go exploring along the trail between the stream and the park. This was awesome, folks. I don't know why we haven't done this before.

Love this photo. They look like such big boys.

Tree-climbers.

They loved the independence of being able to just walk wherever they wanted and stop and explore whatever they wanted.

I love how they're looking at one another in this picture.

Where's Cary?

I have to say that this was one of the best afternoons we've had together in their short years on this earth. And there was no planning, no jam-packed schedule, no agenda, no fee to get in, no crowds, no constant cries for snacks, no over-stimulation and no jackets required.

We did, however, experience a  major meltdown when it was time to go home for dinner. Cary would've stayed out in the woods all night long if he could.

Let's zoom in on that cranky face, shall we?

Hahahaha!

I know he was really heartbroken that we had to leave our adventures in the woods, but his temper tantrums crack me up.

Despite that small bump in the road, this was a glorious afternoon and I'm sorry Clair missed it, but as soon as she's 100-percent better, we'll include her on future jaunts.