Annual Park Bike Ride

Before we had kids Mike and I were at this park daily walking the dog.  Then along came Cole and I was still here daily with Cole and the dog.  Once Siena came along I had to stop coming because Cole refused to sit in a stroller.  So even though I am still at this park daily (actually twice a day during the week to drop Cole off at school) this was one of the first times we took both kids with bikes.

Cole lapped us at lightening speed and rode 11 laps ( 5 1/2 miles) while Mike and I walked with Siena while she completed 2 laps or 1 mile.

Here she is taking a "break"




waiting for Cole to arrive

Pure Joy

Finally a trip to the park

Some what nice weather with a break in the rain and snow so we got to go to the park!  We haven't been in so long.   The kids had a blast.

Park Time!

It's been awhile since we have been at the park.  Like pretty much all summer.  But it was so nice to walk a few laps again and just enjoy the scenery.  

The greeters.  These are probably the most intrusive group of geese I have ever encountered.  They are a pain in the butt.

Cole is very consistent in what he does on every lap.  He always stops off here and throws rocks.

Then he goes around to run across the little bridge.

He is really being an awesome poser for me lately!  I love it!

Then we picked blackberries.  These obviously have some time to mature but we were able to get a handful of some ripe ones.

Siena was super tired.  She relaxed in the stroller the entire time and not once begged to get out.

Cole did his usual play structure climbing and sliding except this time when we asked him to come to us so we could walk another lap, he would stop, run over to us and start walking with no tantrums, screaming, nothing!  It was amazing.  I am hoping that continues.

Our typical trip to the park

When ever we get the chance to go to the park we do! It's my form of exercise since I can't get much time any time else to do it. The paved circle at the park is a 1/2 mile. Usually I walk 4 laps in about 35 minutes. Great exercise, when I can get it. But when we have days like this, one 1/2 lap takes an hour.

When we first get to the park Cole acts like a dog that has just been let off the leash. He run like a maniac looking for sticks and geese to chase. Although the past few times he wants to chase the little black birds.

Next stop on the path is the "little bridge". He takes his sticks down to it to collect algae.

Mike usually man's the stroller if I have the camera and Onyx attempts to heal with it but finds it hard not to sniff everything in site.

Spring time brings eggs. Some geese are not smart enough to lay their eggs where kids and adults can't get them so you end of seeing them broken on the path or you see adults stealing them. Try as they might, they really aren't that scary.

On the island the geese stock pile the eggs and take turns guarding them.

Besides ducks and geese there are turtles living in the pond. We may or may not have put one of our turtles in there.

Next stop after the pond is the giant grate where Cole loves to drop rocks in that he collected between the park and the grate.

Cole will usually hop on the stroller for part of the lap but once the play structure is in site he is off!
Cole means business when it comes to those slides.
Siena like always, just want's to put things in her mouth.

Cole loves climbing up the ladder and that is pretty much his only way of getting to the top.

He rotates between the two biggest slides and rarely goes down the small ones.

Siena did her best to reach the bark.

After Cole got tired of the slides he came to assist her in her bark grabbing.
Continuing past the play structure we attempt to let Siena walk on her own but she chose to go back the opposite way.

Cole likes being in charge and stopping her from getting into things.
As we get closer to the car, Cole always stops in the same place he saw "big kids" playing baseball and attempts some form of it. Today was "big rock baseball". The kids does have an arm on him.

An hour later, a run in with some friends who just had a new baby, I only got 1 lap in and it is past lunch time and nap time. I think Mike and I finally got lunch at 3pm.