That's it. Just a title and a picture. Enjoy.
:)
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Single Parenting is tough, but not impossible
So, at the time that I am writing this, it has been almost 72 hours since Julio left on his mountain biking trip, but who's counting, right? So, that's how long I've been a temporary "single parent". So, my overall opinion on this experience is that single parenting is harder than co-parenting, but not an unbearable task. Here's a breakdown of the highs and lows.
Challenges:
- I bought a new printer Thursday evening. I tried to work on setting it up while trying to get Elan to eat dinner. Probably not wise of me to multitask.
-Elan has a mind of his own and I tend to forget that. He has likes and dislikes. Which means getting dressed in the morning on Friday morning took longer than I had planned for. I was late for work.
- When I picked him up from school on Friday afternoon, I was terribly exhausted and had little patience left. It made for a rough night, but not horrible.
- Saturday morning Elan woke up 6:00 am. Seriously? He hardly ever wakes up this early. I was not prepared to start my day at 6:00am, but I had no choice. Out of bed.
- By Saturday afternoon, Elan was good and tired, but would not take his nap. He normally naps at around 12:30, but he didn't fall asleep till 3:00! Sigh. I think this was the only time during the weekend when I thought I was going to go crazy.
- Every morning and night, Elan has asked for Julio. He obviously misses his dad. And that is enough to break my heart.
The good stuff:
- Elan ate very well before we left for school on Friday morning. It was a no fuss breakfast- my favorite kind.
- Elan helped me cook dinner on Friday night. I made my own version of these rice cakes. He helped me get all the ingredients together, but I had to make him go to the living room while I fried them up. It was a good experience while it lasted.
- On Saturday morning, we went to a joint-birthday party for 2 of Elan's classmates. He had a good time, and it gave me the opportunity to meet the other parents from his class.
- After he finally napped, we played his new game, Uno Moo, which turned out to be a lot of fun. We didn't play exactly as the instructions suggest, but close enough to where he could practice his colors, animals, and the concept of "same" and "different. It was a hit.
- After playing the game, Elan and I went to Central Market where Elan got to play, we had gelato, walked around the water in search of little fish, and we got to see the moon through some telescopes that the Austin Astronomical Society had set up since it was "Astromony Day". The group Oliver Rajamani Ensemble played in celebration of Ghandi's birthday, and I have to admit, they were pretty good. It was a very interesting mix. And Elan's behavior was superb! While there, we also walked over to Zinger's which can be any person's paradise. There's something for everyone there. We had a great night together.
-Each night, bedtime has been easy. Elan is pretty cooperative.
- Sunday morning, we packed up our breakfast and met up with Lauren and Aedan at Little Stacy Park. Elan and I had never been there, so I'm glad we got to visit another park. It was good catching up time and Elan enjoyed playing somewhere new.
- After the park, we went to H-E-B, where Elan surprised me. For background info., Elan loves the"car" shopping carts and looks forward to riding in those each time we go to the store. Last time we went, they were all being used and he broke down crying. Anyway, this time, we got one and cruised around the store like we usually do. When we were at the register, a mom arrived to the store with her twins and asked if they could use it when we were done. Knowing she would have to wait (with twins- aakk!) for our cart, I suggested to Elan we get another one and give them ours. I was very surprised at how easy it was- he just said "ok" and we made the trade. It made that mom's day and it made mine, knowing he gets it- we have to let others have their turn. :)
- Overall, Elan's behavior was good. I had some challenging moments, but they were due mostly to the fact that I forget he is little person with a mind and feelings of his own. I kept having to remind myself to respect that fact. A few deep breaths and we were able to compromise.
- The one-on-one time we have been able to spend together over the last few days has been a good bonding experience.
So, while I didn't have to deal with anything terribly challenging, I'm grateful that I normally have Julio to help me out as much as he does. It's definitely easier when we tag team it. So, I'm really looking forward to his return, which is still, oh, more than four hours away. Oh wait, I forgot, I wasn't counting.
Challenges:
- I bought a new printer Thursday evening. I tried to work on setting it up while trying to get Elan to eat dinner. Probably not wise of me to multitask.
-Elan has a mind of his own and I tend to forget that. He has likes and dislikes. Which means getting dressed in the morning on Friday morning took longer than I had planned for. I was late for work.
- When I picked him up from school on Friday afternoon, I was terribly exhausted and had little patience left. It made for a rough night, but not horrible.
- Saturday morning Elan woke up 6:00 am. Seriously? He hardly ever wakes up this early. I was not prepared to start my day at 6:00am, but I had no choice. Out of bed.
- By Saturday afternoon, Elan was good and tired, but would not take his nap. He normally naps at around 12:30, but he didn't fall asleep till 3:00! Sigh. I think this was the only time during the weekend when I thought I was going to go crazy.
- Every morning and night, Elan has asked for Julio. He obviously misses his dad. And that is enough to break my heart.
The good stuff:
- Elan ate very well before we left for school on Friday morning. It was a no fuss breakfast- my favorite kind.
- Elan helped me cook dinner on Friday night. I made my own version of these rice cakes. He helped me get all the ingredients together, but I had to make him go to the living room while I fried them up. It was a good experience while it lasted.
- On Saturday morning, we went to a joint-birthday party for 2 of Elan's classmates. He had a good time, and it gave me the opportunity to meet the other parents from his class.
- After he finally napped, we played his new game, Uno Moo, which turned out to be a lot of fun. We didn't play exactly as the instructions suggest, but close enough to where he could practice his colors, animals, and the concept of "same" and "different. It was a hit.
- After playing the game, Elan and I went to Central Market where Elan got to play, we had gelato, walked around the water in search of little fish, and we got to see the moon through some telescopes that the Austin Astronomical Society had set up since it was "Astromony Day". The group Oliver Rajamani Ensemble played in celebration of Ghandi's birthday, and I have to admit, they were pretty good. It was a very interesting mix. And Elan's behavior was superb! While there, we also walked over to Zinger's which can be any person's paradise. There's something for everyone there. We had a great night together.
-Each night, bedtime has been easy. Elan is pretty cooperative.
- Sunday morning, we packed up our breakfast and met up with Lauren and Aedan at Little Stacy Park. Elan and I had never been there, so I'm glad we got to visit another park. It was good catching up time and Elan enjoyed playing somewhere new.
- After the park, we went to H-E-B, where Elan surprised me. For background info., Elan loves the"car" shopping carts and looks forward to riding in those each time we go to the store. Last time we went, they were all being used and he broke down crying. Anyway, this time, we got one and cruised around the store like we usually do. When we were at the register, a mom arrived to the store with her twins and asked if they could use it when we were done. Knowing she would have to wait (with twins- aakk!) for our cart, I suggested to Elan we get another one and give them ours. I was very surprised at how easy it was- he just said "ok" and we made the trade. It made that mom's day and it made mine, knowing he gets it- we have to let others have their turn. :)
- Overall, Elan's behavior was good. I had some challenging moments, but they were due mostly to the fact that I forget he is little person with a mind and feelings of his own. I kept having to remind myself to respect that fact. A few deep breaths and we were able to compromise.
- The one-on-one time we have been able to spend together over the last few days has been a good bonding experience.
So, while I didn't have to deal with anything terribly challenging, I'm grateful that I normally have Julio to help me out as much as he does. It's definitely easier when we tag team it. So, I'm really looking forward to his return, which is still, oh, more than four hours away. Oh wait, I forgot, I wasn't counting.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Tough Love Takes on a Food Battle
Yeah, I know what you're thinking- I thought this blog died. I'll be honest, it kinda did for a while. It was in a coma, we can say. To be completely truthful, I've been lazy and have avoided anything related to a blog. I'm not sure why. I didn't post anything over the last 2 months and I didn't read any blogs in about that amount of time. Not sure what got into me. Anyway, I'm back.
So, about the food war (which I'm not sure will ever really be won)....
As you know, we've always struggled with Elan and food. We came to the realization that Elan is just a lazy eater when he was a little over a year old. When we first introduced meats, he wouldn't eat them. And it wasn't because of the taste, because he would eat them pureed just fine. It wasn't really the texture, either. It was the work that it took to chew the meat that turned him away. Fast forward to now and the story is not much different. Elan prefers foods he already knows he likes (sweets, crackers, fruits, pasta, nuts, etc.), prefers food that take little effort to consume, and prefers to be spoon fed (yes, I just admitted that). Plain and simple, he is a lazy eater. As he gets older, he is trying and testing how much of his way he can get. And this is where the food battle meets tough love.
Everyday, we get a written report from his preschool (oh, yes, more on his preschool in another post) on how he did that day. On Monday, it said he ate very little of his lunch. We made a slight mention of it to him, but nothing noteworthy.
On Tuesday, again, his report said he ate very little of his lunch. On our way home, I told him he would not be eating anything else until he ate a healthy meal. So, once home, I prepared him baked chicken with tons of veggies. He took one look at it and said he didn't want it. "No problem," I said, "you don't have to eat it, but just know there isn't anything else to eat until you eat this." It went untouched. An hour later, I asked if he wanted me to heat up his food and he said yes. When I presented it to him, he said the same thing, he didn't want it. He wouldn't even try it. So, I took it back to the kitchen and told him the same thing. Bath time came around and we went through all of our bedtime routine. When the lights were out, he said he was hungry. I told him he could eat if he ate what I had prepared for him earlier. He agreed he would eat, so we made our way downstairs, and I heated up the plate of food. To my surprise, he ate EVERY LAST PIECE OF FOOD on that plate, without a single face or gag! And he ate it on his own and quickly! I thought I had succeeded in getting my point across.
On Wednesday, I go to pick him up and again, there is a report that he did not eat very much of his lunch. Sigh. By this point, I'm pretty upset. I talked to his teacher about it and made mention of it to him while still at school. When we got in the car, he got a lecture. I have to admit, I felt quite silly lecturing an almost-3-year old, but I basically told him why I was disappointed, what I expected of him, that there would be absolutely no sweets until he started eating better, and that he was going to have to eat on our terms. The car was dead silent and he looked very serious. He knew very well, he was in trouble. While on the way home, he asked if I'd make him a PB&J sandwich. Nope. He asked a few more times and I didn't budge. Since I knew he was hungry, I decided to prepare his first meal completely on my terms. So, I got 3 Ritz crackers, topped them with chicken salad, and served it with a bowl of steamed edamame. He looked at the chicken salad, asked what it was, then said he didn't want it. He just wanted the cracker. No siree! This was an all or nothing deal. So, I gave him the look and another reminder that he needed to at least try foods. So, knowing he was already in trouble, he tried it. And much to his surprise, he liked it. During this meal, he also had to show me how he was going to use the spoon to feed himself at school. He ate everything and asked for more chicken salad. Ha! Before going to bed this night, he told me he would eat at school the next day.
In telling my mom and a few coworkers about the tough love approach, I heard things like, "You're so mean." "I would have given in and given him PB&J." "Poor Elan." "He's so young."
So, today, I went to pick him up, saw his report and it said he ate. Phew! When he saw me, the first thing he did was run up to me and tell me ate today, very excitedly, I must add. In hearing this, the teacher turns to me, and says, "yes, he ate... A LOT."
Success.
As a small reward, he got to chew gum on the way home. :)
While I doubt our food war is over, tough love prevailed on this recent battle, and I've learned a lot about sticking to my guns. You may be asking yourself, "why all the fuss?" Well, we are living in a world where more and more kids have a feeling of entitlement and feel they can always get their way. If we continue to raise our kids with that kind of mentality, we are setting them up for disappointment when real life hits. Elan may be young, but it has to start now. He has to know there are boundaries, there are rules, and they're not his rules. I'm not trying to be a micro manager of his life, I'm just trying to make him a better person while I can. He needs to understand that right now I know what's best for him.
What are your thoughts on tough love (or anything else mentioned in this post)?
So, about the food war (which I'm not sure will ever really be won)....
As you know, we've always struggled with Elan and food. We came to the realization that Elan is just a lazy eater when he was a little over a year old. When we first introduced meats, he wouldn't eat them. And it wasn't because of the taste, because he would eat them pureed just fine. It wasn't really the texture, either. It was the work that it took to chew the meat that turned him away. Fast forward to now and the story is not much different. Elan prefers foods he already knows he likes (sweets, crackers, fruits, pasta, nuts, etc.), prefers food that take little effort to consume, and prefers to be spoon fed (yes, I just admitted that). Plain and simple, he is a lazy eater. As he gets older, he is trying and testing how much of his way he can get. And this is where the food battle meets tough love.
Everyday, we get a written report from his preschool (oh, yes, more on his preschool in another post) on how he did that day. On Monday, it said he ate very little of his lunch. We made a slight mention of it to him, but nothing noteworthy.
On Tuesday, again, his report said he ate very little of his lunch. On our way home, I told him he would not be eating anything else until he ate a healthy meal. So, once home, I prepared him baked chicken with tons of veggies. He took one look at it and said he didn't want it. "No problem," I said, "you don't have to eat it, but just know there isn't anything else to eat until you eat this." It went untouched. An hour later, I asked if he wanted me to heat up his food and he said yes. When I presented it to him, he said the same thing, he didn't want it. He wouldn't even try it. So, I took it back to the kitchen and told him the same thing. Bath time came around and we went through all of our bedtime routine. When the lights were out, he said he was hungry. I told him he could eat if he ate what I had prepared for him earlier. He agreed he would eat, so we made our way downstairs, and I heated up the plate of food. To my surprise, he ate EVERY LAST PIECE OF FOOD on that plate, without a single face or gag! And he ate it on his own and quickly! I thought I had succeeded in getting my point across.
On Wednesday, I go to pick him up and again, there is a report that he did not eat very much of his lunch. Sigh. By this point, I'm pretty upset. I talked to his teacher about it and made mention of it to him while still at school. When we got in the car, he got a lecture. I have to admit, I felt quite silly lecturing an almost-3-year old, but I basically told him why I was disappointed, what I expected of him, that there would be absolutely no sweets until he started eating better, and that he was going to have to eat on our terms. The car was dead silent and he looked very serious. He knew very well, he was in trouble. While on the way home, he asked if I'd make him a PB&J sandwich. Nope. He asked a few more times and I didn't budge. Since I knew he was hungry, I decided to prepare his first meal completely on my terms. So, I got 3 Ritz crackers, topped them with chicken salad, and served it with a bowl of steamed edamame. He looked at the chicken salad, asked what it was, then said he didn't want it. He just wanted the cracker. No siree! This was an all or nothing deal. So, I gave him the look and another reminder that he needed to at least try foods. So, knowing he was already in trouble, he tried it. And much to his surprise, he liked it. During this meal, he also had to show me how he was going to use the spoon to feed himself at school. He ate everything and asked for more chicken salad. Ha! Before going to bed this night, he told me he would eat at school the next day.
In telling my mom and a few coworkers about the tough love approach, I heard things like, "You're so mean." "I would have given in and given him PB&J." "Poor Elan." "He's so young."
So, today, I went to pick him up, saw his report and it said he ate. Phew! When he saw me, the first thing he did was run up to me and tell me ate today, very excitedly, I must add. In hearing this, the teacher turns to me, and says, "yes, he ate... A LOT."
Success.
As a small reward, he got to chew gum on the way home. :)
While I doubt our food war is over, tough love prevailed on this recent battle, and I've learned a lot about sticking to my guns. You may be asking yourself, "why all the fuss?" Well, we are living in a world where more and more kids have a feeling of entitlement and feel they can always get their way. If we continue to raise our kids with that kind of mentality, we are setting them up for disappointment when real life hits. Elan may be young, but it has to start now. He has to know there are boundaries, there are rules, and they're not his rules. I'm not trying to be a micro manager of his life, I'm just trying to make him a better person while I can. He needs to understand that right now I know what's best for him.
What are your thoughts on tough love (or anything else mentioned in this post)?
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Dog Sitting
It's almost been a week since I last posted. Elan and I have been in Del Rio, trying to make a little extra cash. We are dog and house sitting for a coworker of my sister-in-law, Edna. It's been interesting. Elan is not used to big dogs and it's been hard getting him to understand that this is their house and he can't boss them around. I mean, why are they going to listen to him? They are bigger than he is- they are boxers, after all.
Overall, it's been good, but it has been a little challenging trying to keep Elan entertained in a house that isn't ours. And I don't like him to leave his toys out, in fear that the dogs might chew them up (one of them likes to chew). This is hard for him to understand. He has spent a few days at my parents' or at Julio's parents' just to give him a break (the break might be for me, too). Plus, his grandparents (on both sides) know how to make kids happy- play, swim, run in the sprinklers, pick figs, go look at the goats, eat popsicles, ice cream, candy, cookies, etc.- you get the idea. The way to Elan's heart is dessert. He takes after his dad.
The dogs, Ariel and Packie, are well-behaved. They mostly like to hang out inside. They sleep and snore. But every now and then, they'll let you know they have to relieve some built-up energy. At that point, I'll take them for a walk or just play with them inside. It's soooo hot, so unfortunately, I don't let them outside too often or for too long.
Nighttime is most challenging. The house has a huge walk-in shower and the dogs get a shower every night. Well, so does Elan. So, I kill 2 birds with 1 stone. First I shower Elan in the walk-in shower (the shower head is removable), then wrap him up in a towel, and sit him on the tub edge. He sits there while I shower the dogs. They are amazingly calm while being showered. But for some reason, a few nights after their shower, they have gotten a huge burst of energy and they are ALL OVER THE HOUSE- running up and down the halls, around the living room at crazy speeds. This is going on while I try to put Elan in his pajamas and get his teeth brushed... and calmed down for bed. Miranda, my niece, had been helping me for the first 8 days (before she left for her trip out East). She worked on calming the dogs while I put Elan down for bed. But last night was my first night on my own. Sigh. It wasn't bad, but for a moment there, I got nervous. They were running around like they've done other nights, and I thought, how am I going to do this? So, I just pushed Elan's bedtime for later and we sat with them till they calmed down and fell asleep. Then we moved to our room, and I worked on calming Elan. This was easier. :) Makes me wonder if this is what it's like for people with twins and triplets. And just how does Octomom do it?
It has been a learning experience and I doubt we'll be getting a dog anytime soon. They are a big responsibility and can be a lot of work, just like kids. To be honest, taking care of the dogs alone is not that bad. And taking care of Elan alone is not bad, either. But, it's the two combined that I have found challenging. Making sure everyone has eaten, used the restroom, napped, been taken for a walk, has had enough to drink, etc..
Well, the owners return tomorrow night. I'm supposed to be cleaning, not blogging. But I just felt like updating, so here I am.
I'll be heading back to Austin on Tuesday night and I am looking forward to a pedicure, some quiet time, and maybe a girls' night. I think the boys will allow me that. :)
Overall, it's been good, but it has been a little challenging trying to keep Elan entertained in a house that isn't ours. And I don't like him to leave his toys out, in fear that the dogs might chew them up (one of them likes to chew). This is hard for him to understand. He has spent a few days at my parents' or at Julio's parents' just to give him a break (the break might be for me, too). Plus, his grandparents (on both sides) know how to make kids happy- play, swim, run in the sprinklers, pick figs, go look at the goats, eat popsicles, ice cream, candy, cookies, etc.- you get the idea. The way to Elan's heart is dessert. He takes after his dad.
The dogs, Ariel and Packie, are well-behaved. They mostly like to hang out inside. They sleep and snore. But every now and then, they'll let you know they have to relieve some built-up energy. At that point, I'll take them for a walk or just play with them inside. It's soooo hot, so unfortunately, I don't let them outside too often or for too long.
Nighttime is most challenging. The house has a huge walk-in shower and the dogs get a shower every night. Well, so does Elan. So, I kill 2 birds with 1 stone. First I shower Elan in the walk-in shower (the shower head is removable), then wrap him up in a towel, and sit him on the tub edge. He sits there while I shower the dogs. They are amazingly calm while being showered. But for some reason, a few nights after their shower, they have gotten a huge burst of energy and they are ALL OVER THE HOUSE- running up and down the halls, around the living room at crazy speeds. This is going on while I try to put Elan in his pajamas and get his teeth brushed... and calmed down for bed. Miranda, my niece, had been helping me for the first 8 days (before she left for her trip out East). She worked on calming the dogs while I put Elan down for bed. But last night was my first night on my own. Sigh. It wasn't bad, but for a moment there, I got nervous. They were running around like they've done other nights, and I thought, how am I going to do this? So, I just pushed Elan's bedtime for later and we sat with them till they calmed down and fell asleep. Then we moved to our room, and I worked on calming Elan. This was easier. :) Makes me wonder if this is what it's like for people with twins and triplets. And just how does Octomom do it?
It has been a learning experience and I doubt we'll be getting a dog anytime soon. They are a big responsibility and can be a lot of work, just like kids. To be honest, taking care of the dogs alone is not that bad. And taking care of Elan alone is not bad, either. But, it's the two combined that I have found challenging. Making sure everyone has eaten, used the restroom, napped, been taken for a walk, has had enough to drink, etc..
Well, the owners return tomorrow night. I'm supposed to be cleaning, not blogging. But I just felt like updating, so here I am.
I'll be heading back to Austin on Tuesday night and I am looking forward to a pedicure, some quiet time, and maybe a girls' night. I think the boys will allow me that. :)
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Summer 2011, Part 3- Austin Time
When we're not visiting family in other cities or working, we like to spend time doing Austin things. Austin is such a great place to live and there are so many things to do- for kids and adults, alike. We like to do a lot of things outside and most of the fun (and free) things Austin has to offer require us to be outside. However, the recent intense heat has created a challenge for us. It's been difficult to manage tolerable weather and nap times, but I think we're managing okay. Here's a little bit of what we've been up to lately...
The Zilker Zephyr- This little, fun, low speed train ride through one of Austin's beloved parks is something that never grows old for us. You could ask Elan at any time of the day and he will say he wants to go ride the train. For a small fee, you can enjoy a 20 minute ride through Zilker Park, and when passing Lou Neff Point, you even get to hear live music from the reliable guitarist who hangs out there. While waiting for the train or after your ride, the little ones can play at the large playground, or you can always people watch those jumping off the diving board at Barton Springs Pool.
Walnut Creek Park- Known to many as a nearby place for mountain biking, hiking, and other activities, we first starting going here for its mountain biking. Now, we've started bringing Elan to enjoy his bike with a little off-roading action.
Butler Park- this is another of our favorite places to go. It's a great place to relax, have a picnic, look for turtles, or just splash around in the fountains. It was the only way to cool off the other morning after a visit to the Zilker Park Playground.
The Splash Pad at Pease Park- This is another place to cool off that I've come to really like. The playground here offers quite a bit of shade (but not for the little bitty ones) and the Splash Pad is big enough and interesting enough to entertain the little ones. There are very few shade spots, so you have to arrive early or wait for one to open up. But don't worry- if you don't get a shaded spot to watch your little one, you can always run through the splash pad too. It's quite refreshing!
"Gardening"- Julio recently did a lot of cleaning up in the yard. I would say "we", but I only did about 1/10 of what Julio did, so I will give credit where credit is due. Elan and I lend a small helping hand from time to time, but more than anything, Julio's gardening time gives Elan a chance to play with some of his toys in the yard. We (and yes, I do mean "we" this time) also started a little project in the garden. I will post more on this later- like in 3 months (that's a hint).
CapMetro Rail- Ever since Austin got a rail line, I've been wanting to take Elan for a train ride. At first they didn't have midday or weekend service, so it was a little challenging to plan a trip. But they recently added midday service, and since we have the summer off, it's much more doable. So, we recently boarded the train that stops near our house and took it downtown. Upon arriving downtown, we walked over to Jo's for some burgers. I had heard a lot of great things and had to give them a try. They were good- I'd go back. Then we walked over to the Children's Museum, which is practically next door. After that, we went and had some frozen yogurt. Then it was time to head home for a nap!
Blues on the Green- Every other Wednesday night at Zilker Park, they have a free "concert". This is another thing we've been wanting to do for a while now. So, we packed up a backpack and rode our bikes on down to Zilker. We met up with some old friends and had a good time. The ride back was a eerie, but cool, since it was night time. Not to worry, we had plenty of lights in front and in back of us. I think we will definitely be doing this again.
Canoeing- Lastly, we recently rented a canoe and cruised up and down Barton Creek / Lady Bird Lake. It was great being out on the water and Elan had a blast. He keeps telling everyone he sees about his canoe ride and all that he saw. I know this is something that made a lasting impression and something we will do again and again. It was so relaxing.
What about you? What have you done this summer (if you've had some free time)?
The Zilker Zephyr- This little, fun, low speed train ride through one of Austin's beloved parks is something that never grows old for us. You could ask Elan at any time of the day and he will say he wants to go ride the train. For a small fee, you can enjoy a 20 minute ride through Zilker Park, and when passing Lou Neff Point, you even get to hear live music from the reliable guitarist who hangs out there. While waiting for the train or after your ride, the little ones can play at the large playground, or you can always people watch those jumping off the diving board at Barton Springs Pool.
Walnut Creek Park- Known to many as a nearby place for mountain biking, hiking, and other activities, we first starting going here for its mountain biking. Now, we've started bringing Elan to enjoy his bike with a little off-roading action.
 |
| Hiking and Biking at Walnut Creek Park |
Butler Park- this is another of our favorite places to go. It's a great place to relax, have a picnic, look for turtles, or just splash around in the fountains. It was the only way to cool off the other morning after a visit to the Zilker Park Playground.
 |
| Splashing around in the fountains at Butler Park |
The Splash Pad at Pease Park- This is another place to cool off that I've come to really like. The playground here offers quite a bit of shade (but not for the little bitty ones) and the Splash Pad is big enough and interesting enough to entertain the little ones. There are very few shade spots, so you have to arrive early or wait for one to open up. But don't worry- if you don't get a shaded spot to watch your little one, you can always run through the splash pad too. It's quite refreshing!
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| Playing at the Splash Pad at Pease Park |
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| More splashing around at Pease Park |
"Gardening"- Julio recently did a lot of cleaning up in the yard. I would say "we", but I only did about 1/10 of what Julio did, so I will give credit where credit is due. Elan and I lend a small helping hand from time to time, but more than anything, Julio's gardening time gives Elan a chance to play with some of his toys in the yard. We (and yes, I do mean "we" this time) also started a little project in the garden. I will post more on this later- like in 3 months (that's a hint).
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| Gardening / Playing with tractors in the yard |
CapMetro Rail- Ever since Austin got a rail line, I've been wanting to take Elan for a train ride. At first they didn't have midday or weekend service, so it was a little challenging to plan a trip. But they recently added midday service, and since we have the summer off, it's much more doable. So, we recently boarded the train that stops near our house and took it downtown. Upon arriving downtown, we walked over to Jo's for some burgers. I had heard a lot of great things and had to give them a try. They were good- I'd go back. Then we walked over to the Children's Museum, which is practically next door. After that, we went and had some frozen yogurt. Then it was time to head home for a nap!
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| Waiting for the Train |
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| At the Children's Museum, pretending to make some steaks on the grill. |
Blues on the Green- Every other Wednesday night at Zilker Park, they have a free "concert". This is another thing we've been wanting to do for a while now. So, we packed up a backpack and rode our bikes on down to Zilker. We met up with some old friends and had a good time. The ride back was a eerie, but cool, since it was night time. Not to worry, we had plenty of lights in front and in back of us. I think we will definitely be doing this again.
Canoeing- Lastly, we recently rented a canoe and cruised up and down Barton Creek / Lady Bird Lake. It was great being out on the water and Elan had a blast. He keeps telling everyone he sees about his canoe ride and all that he saw. I know this is something that made a lasting impression and something we will do again and again. It was so relaxing.
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| Some swans hanging out on the shore. |
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| Turtles relaxing. |
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| If you look closely, you can see a nutria swimming across the water. |
What about you? What have you done this summer (if you've had some free time)?
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