Splash!

Dear Parker,

You have certainly been getting your fill of the summer water activities lately.  Last night, your cousins came over to play and you all played in the pool.  You were much more aggressive with the "swimming" when other kids are around.  I think it also helped that the water was MUCH warmer than it was the first time you used the pool.  You splashed and tried to blow bubbles and dumped water on Alex's head.  There was a slightly scary moment where you lost your balance and went under and couldn't get yourself up, but Uncle Stu was right there and grabbed you.  You were totally fine and even laughed it off!

This morning, Mom needed to go into school for just a little bit, so we came along and went to the park across the street.  In addition to some pretty fun playground equipment, they have a "splash park."  I wasn't sure how you would react to the splash park part seeing that when you run through the sprinkler, you usually run around the sprinkler.

At first, you weren't too sure - just hanging out on the edge of the water.

 You liked wading through the "river" to the big rocks at the end

 but eventually you warmed up and ran through the water like a champ.

 This picture kills me because you look so old running like that.

 The biggest excitement of the day, however, came on the slides.  First there is a ladder to get to this enclosed platform area that leads to all the slides - you just climbed up the ladder all by yourself.  Then, I was trying to keep my eye on you on the platform, but it was very hard to see because it's kind of enclosed and it's pretty high up.  So, I went underneath and was looking around for you.  Then, I looked at the bottom and there you were.  You had gone down the really big slides all by yourself.  Before you had always wanted to go down with Mommy or Mom.

You kept to the biggest twisty slide, which is pretty slow because of all the bends, but then you tried the straight slide.  Mom started moving as soon as she saw you go in, but she didn't get there in time.  You just popped out the bottom and landed flat on your face.  It is a FAST slide.  Very Steep and Very Straight.  You said you had fun on the way down, but you didn't like falling.  That seemed like a good time to go home.  So, we grabbed some lunch (where you ATE an entire sub sandwich that was chocked full of meat) and came home.  It was a really good morning.

I love you so much.  I am looking forward to more days like today.
Love,
Mommy