the park

We go to a nearby park a lot.  Certainly once a week, sometimes more, almost always with Jenny & Ellen.   They are moving to a town about 30 minutes away next week (which right now feels like they might as well be moving to the moon), so I wanted to grab some pictures of Kyalo and Ellen at the park together, as a little memory of our many, many hours there.

But let me tell you, taking pictures of two non-stop toddlers in a shady park at noon-time does not for good pictures make.  Please forgive the out of focus photos.

It was a beautiful, extra warm, fall day here in New Jersey when I took these pictures last week.

This park has a lot to offer. . .

 (there was a dad singing to his little girl in a nearby swing, and Kyalo was enjoying the song - and probably wondering why I never sing for him at the park)

A cordoned-off tree stump provides hours of fun

a balance beam, of course

The balance beam takes a lot of concentration.  After I took these photos, he fell off the bream right at the end which brought about big tears and heartbreak.  It took a bit to get him to calm down. I'm not sure exactly what happened.  Since the beam is about 3 inches off the ground its not like it was a catastrophic fall or anything. Guess he just landed badly.

Soon he dusted himself off and was able to enjoy the rest of the things the park has to offer.

 this looks like an in-action photo, but really he's paused there.  He can't seem to go any higher just yet. I think he's got his mama's fear of heights!

Ellen likes the slide, too

Love the static!

 he loved hanging from the rings. . . 

but the pull up bar, not so much.

I'd say it was time to wrap this party up.

Here's Kyalo's new consignment shop vest. I love this eggplanty color on him. Gorgeous.  Also, I love puffy vests.

there's our motley crew, heading to the strollers so we could head home

Confession:  I don't really like going to the park.  When it is just me and Kyalo, I find it incredibly boring.  Even though Jenny and I are often too busy chasing our kids on opposite sides of the park to talk, it is nice to have someone there to help pass some of the time.  

After one of our visits to the park, I asked Kyalo what his favorite part was, expecting slide or swings to be the answer.  Instead, he said, "Tcha-cho goves Ey-yen." (Kyalo loves Ellen, in case you don't speak Kyalo).  Next week is going to be pretty tough. How do you explain to a two-year-old that his best friend has moved too far away to visit with as much?  30 minutes is not SO far away, but it sure will be different not being able to call Jenny up at 9 to make plans for 10 am.  Every day -- and I mean EVERY DAY -- Kyalo asks to go to Ellen's house.  Sometimes, when leaving there, he tells me he wants to go back.

As long as the weather holds up, we'll be back there, burning off some energy.  It just won't be the same with out our pals.