perfect playtime

We met your gaggle of cousins, Aunt Jates and Mammy at the corner market where Mammy had promised to treat everyone to the item of their choice from the candy aisle. I chose a purple tootsie roll pop for you, and while I feel certain you had little idea what it was, you were excited by its shape and color. It was almost as if you recognized the significance of being a part of this special and rare happening—getting to pick a sugar treat—with your cousins. We all then traipsed to the wooden and mostly shady playground at Crockett Park. I thought you probably needed shoes for this adventure, but the last time I’d put you in your hand-me-down crocs from Tanner and Evan, you high-stepped like you were a champion walking horse from Shelbyville. I was certain you were going to kill yourself. This time you took uncertain steps at first, but you steadied quickly. You had no problem climbing up to the castle and sliding down the slide (with my assistance) and chasing through the mulch after your cousins (even though there was no hope you’d catch them). You played hard and had fun. The weather was milder than it had been recently, and a cooling breeze blew most of the morning. We took advantage of the weather to dine alfresco at a shady picnic table and had a feast of a lunch, swapping and sharing tasty edibles of all sorts. Mammy brought all the kids a juice box, and true to her record of perfect equity she practices with kids and grandkids, she did not leave you out. You took a gulping first sip and enjoyed what you tasted. As I offered you another sip, you grabbed the juice box in your excitement and squirted apple juice in a hearty stream all over your sweet, shocked face. I am serious; you were drenched in 100% apple juice. It was hilarious! I wish I had a picture of your reaction, but it seemed cruel to document rather than clean you up quickly.

That afternoon you napped at Aunt Jates’s house while your cousins waited anxiously for you to wake up to play with them in the playroom and in the backyard. For dinner, we joined everyone again, this time with Pups and Uncle Hugh (Daddy was feeling yucky, so he went home) at Snappy Tomatoes for a pizza and pasta buffet. Papa commented you ate better than the bigger kids. You do like to eat, lil man. It was a good day. We both slept hard that night.