A Day at the Park

If we should actually have a day where we head out to the park, Abbey and Landen think big.  There is a small park in our neighborhood that neither one of them will acknowledge as a park.  I mention park, and the two of them list off the big parks near our house, and by the time they get to the park across the street, they are disappointed and irritated that I would even consider that park an outing.  It fits the bill when we have a few minutes between homework, naps, and dinner.  But, it is not their idea of "going to the park."
Today we wowed them with the Irvine Park.  With a railroad, a zoo, a duck pond, a boat rental pond, pony rides, and acres and acres of bike trails, grassy fields, and picnic spots, it is no ordinary park.  It's a park with a wow factor.

These 3 could not decide what to do first.  We did a big loop in the car to check it out and all of them were chattering at once in excitement!

Side-note:  If you would have received a Christmas card this year from us, it would have looked like this.  Hence, you did not receive a card this year.

 a trip on the railroad

visiting the horses

Layne was dying to ride the horsies.  From the moment she caught a glimpse of the pony rides from the car window, all she could say was, "ride the horsies."  I had a feeling she was too little, so we sent dad to go check it while we got up close and personal with these little fellas.  This was as close as they got.  Layne was too little, and Abbey and Landen were too chicken!

a pedal boat ride...fun for the kids...Royal and I's cycle class for the day!

The zoo was closing by the time we made it over to that side of the park.  Landen politely requested that next time we come to the park, we need to make sure we get to the zoo before it closes.  He did use a tone.  That huffy tone that implies he has come to the realization that his parents don't know everything.  Even he knew we should check out the time the zoo closed before we got to the zoo gates.  

Abbey requested that we move back to Irvine so that we could live just down the street and go anytime we wanted.  

We'll be heading back, to restore Landen's faith in us.  And to show Abbey that we can easily get to the park without packing up everything we own and relocating.