a new park!

Last Monday dawned bright and sunny, but the weather forecaster was predicting rain for the rest of the week. Grandpa O'Connor likes to say, "You've got to make hay while the sun shines." And we did just that!

After a few brief errands, we visited a great park in Palo Alto. (We'd been up that way for the errands, anyway.) I have to confess that with two parks in our neighborhood, I'm not very good about loading the kids into the minivan to take them to different parks. (We somehow find enough fun in our neighborhood and in our own small backyard.) The upside to my failing is that when we do go, it generates a lot of excitement!

Kathleen loved the spider-webby climbing structure.

Since our neighborhood parks have no swings, and because we've never found a good place to hang our toddler swing (we've no trees and no swing set), John David hasn't had much of a chance to try out a swing. In fact, this might have been his first try! He was sold.

Whee!

Happy boy!

The girls spent a fair amount of time on the "big kid" swings, too, but I didn't manage any photos of that, because I was too busy holding John David, pushing, and teaching the girls how to "pump."  (That wasn't very successful, if you were wondering.  But they tried!)  Madeline managed the "big kid" swings, but I think she secretly preferred the baby ones.

Glee.  Delight.  (How I love that girl!)

There was lots of sliding, too.

And yet another first for John David -- his first slide!  I let him go down the slide on Kathleen's lap.  Both of them loved it.  Kathleen felt so grown up, taking care of her baby brother.  John David just thought it was fun.

And because I took a photo of Kathleen with John David, Madeline insisted on a photo with "her baby," as well.  I didn't let them slide together; I just set them up on the bottom of the slide.  Madeline wasn't any the wiser, but John David knew he was missing out.

And in case you needed more proof that this is, in fact, a circus, consider the following photos:

Kathleen's working on her circus act -- elephant riding!

The sunny weather and green backdrop seemed to be crying out for a photo of all three littles, but this was the best -- no, really, the BEST -- we got.

We played until we absolutely had to go home for a late lunch and (much-needed) naps.  But when everyone awoke, we went back!  We packed a picnic supper and met Daddy after work, so the girls could show off their new skills.  We can't wait for summer and more park time!  (You'll certainly be seeing more of this park -- it has a water feature that will be turned on in a few months.  We'll be back!)