Family BBQ

Today was a beautiful day - we hung out as a family all day long. Usually on weekends I'm an impatient morning person, up and out with Willow before Wes' feet have hit the floor but this morning I decided against all reason to head to the museum of Nature because Willow had asked for the Dinosaur museum so many times and this weekend is the grand re- opening. So at 10:10, I ran upstairs to tell Wes were leaving in ten minutes - and he stumbled out of bed ready to go - on the condition that coffee be provided. Awesome.


So we get there, and there is a lineup. No, a LINEUP, around the block, barricades and all. The deal was that Willow would see dinos but I DON'T do lineups. A promise is a promise though, so we took her to see the dino statues outside. She climbed them and ran around and then with the promise of a Popsicle we headed to our old favorite park. I love two - no need to mend a broken heart, I got off on a technicality and a frozen treat.

The park was awesomely full of kids and she played and climbed and Wes and I chatted under a tree, drinking coffee. I wouldn't have planned to go all the way downtown to a park - but it was wonderful. Comforting to be back in old stomping grounds, doing something free and relaxing.

I love the new hood - but you can't beat the energy and diversity of a good old downtown park. Basketball game playing, full of kids, music ...

When we got home after a quick stop at Perfect books, where Willow and I had our own little story time and she got to pick a book - the fabulously simple but perfect two year book " Me hungry" , we spent the evening BBQing with Mike , Jehn and Dudley.

See below for hilarity, staring the wagon, the dog, and the ever high energy Jehn.



A dog and his bone. and ball. Wet ball. He kept dropping it in his water bowl and then wondered why we didnt want to throw it...



Uncle Mike in a wagon with Willow. Comfy but according to the crowd not a real radio flier as you can't steer it careening down a hill.



Party time!




"Look, a monster!" This is a good thing around here...





Super toddler tries to move a mountain -- well a Mike.



Ice cream!



Hiding from the monster...