Today Dennis and I hiked the white trail to the yellow/red connector trail to the red trail back to the trailhead at Oak Mountain State Park. We were accompanied by Allison, Ellen, and Chloe. Ellen and I were backpacking the little ones. I forget how much work this is! A backpack plus a 30 pound Dennis plus 2.5 liters of water plus snacks, diapers, and wipes all makes quite a load! True, I've lost about as much weight as I carried today since the last time I hiked with him on my back, and I did find it easier but still challenging. Since I survived, I look forward to doing the yellow trail some time within the next week. I'll work up to blue and then tackle green. That's the summer plan.
Dennis loved his time in the park. He and Chloe screech-laughed gleefully at each other for nearly half the hike. They walked around and played at Maggie's Glen, where we stopped to rest and refuel and rehydrate (it was rather hot today--high 80's and very very humid). We got back to the cars after hearing ominous and ever closer thunder for the last half mile and just as we unloaded the kids from our backs, the rain started. We didn't get very wet and the kids stayed dry--what great timing! Dennis and I went over to Allison's place and went swimming in the chilly water in the pool at her apartment complex. Dennis was trying out his new swim vest and seemed to acclimate pretty well by the end of the session but was nervous at first. He insisted on holding tight to me at all times, and I think this is a good thing for him to do in water, so I'm pretty pleased. He counted "1-2-3" and I threw him up in the air on "3", and we did this over and over and over again. He said "watch Allison float" or "watch Mommy float" and we floated for him to watch. We performed again for him when he said "watch Mommy flip" and "watch Allison flip" (we did somersaults and flips in the water while the other one held him). He of course slept like a rock in the car on the way home and then Daddy and I used a gift certificate we'd won and all 3 of us ate a delicious supper at a local barbecue joint. This was a very very long day for all of us, but it sure was a good one! It's great to play outside.
Dennis loved his time in the park. He and Chloe screech-laughed gleefully at each other for nearly half the hike. They walked around and played at Maggie's Glen, where we stopped to rest and refuel and rehydrate (it was rather hot today--high 80's and very very humid). We got back to the cars after hearing ominous and ever closer thunder for the last half mile and just as we unloaded the kids from our backs, the rain started. We didn't get very wet and the kids stayed dry--what great timing! Dennis and I went over to Allison's place and went swimming in the chilly water in the pool at her apartment complex. Dennis was trying out his new swim vest and seemed to acclimate pretty well by the end of the session but was nervous at first. He insisted on holding tight to me at all times, and I think this is a good thing for him to do in water, so I'm pretty pleased. He counted "1-2-3" and I threw him up in the air on "3", and we did this over and over and over again. He said "watch Allison float" or "watch Mommy float" and we floated for him to watch. We performed again for him when he said "watch Mommy flip" and "watch Allison flip" (we did somersaults and flips in the water while the other one held him). He of course slept like a rock in the car on the way home and then Daddy and I used a gift certificate we'd won and all 3 of us ate a delicious supper at a local barbecue joint. This was a very very long day for all of us, but it sure was a good one! It's great to play outside.
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