thank you, Kids Gym

This was a big day. Up at 4:30 to get to town and give Pop a ride to the airport in Birmingham, then shopping at Target with Ellen and Chloe, breakfast at Chick-Fil-A, and then an hour and a half of play at Kids Gym. Ellen and I have been wanting to take the kids to this for what seems like forever and today it finally worked out. Dennis and Chloe played on indoor jungle gyms, rock climbing ramp and slide, gymnastics equipment (Dennis rocked the balance beam--is he really related to me?), big trampoline, ball pit, rocking toys, etc. What a great place, with its padded floor and giant gymnastics mats and pads all around. An hour into it, the kids (ALL the kids) started to tire and crying and bad toddler behavior abounded. We lasted for another half hour after that before escaping to McDonald's with two exhausted little ones. Good news: despite the wonder of unlimited play and new equipment that he'd never seen before, my wonderful child stopped to go to the potty twice and stayed dry the whole time (hooray!). The second time, I was holding him and telling him he needed to be mindful of the smaller children (and just when did I become the Mommy of the Older Child at the playground???). I said "while we're talking right now, do you need to go potty?" and he replied "yes". I began to carry him to the bathroom when he said "run faster, Mommy!", so we scooted in there quick! Chloe was in there and she became inspired to go potty as well. Hand sanitizer and m&m's were enjoyed by both kiddos afterward. Oh, the fun they had. I think Dennis liked being in the 'cement mixer' the best (the tube like thing that Chloe or I rolled him around in).

So lunch and then a visit to Uncle Denny (we were there as they moved him to a MUCH bigger and nicer hospital room) pretty much stretched Dennis to his absolute limit. I must admit to some real sleepies myself and had to call folks to help me stay awake long enough to get home. Post nap (his, not mine) we had supper and then played with blocks, building "River Road", a circular one lane affair with a bridge that spanned a river (the Blue Pants River, and there were even boats floating along the pants). We read the Sneetches (my favorite Seuss story) and I put him to bed. It's been a long, happy day. Dad arrived safely in Washington. And in other good news, David got a letter from the state asking him to update his application for the job he wanted. When he got online to do so, he found that a position is open in Chilton County!!!! Please pray with us that this is the right place for him and that he will get the job if it is. God is so good!