Run, Ryan, run!

On labor day we decided we needed a little change of scenery so we ventured to Kingwood to visit with Kevin's parents. While we were there we hit the Kingwood trails just down the street from their house and walked (or in Ryan's case -RAN) to the park. The boys LOVED it. We pointed them in the right direction and just let them go. No having to hold hands, no being told they had gone too far and had to come back. Other than stopping to check on Connor once or twice I don't think Ryan's little legs ever stopped moving. They moved a mile a minute. And he was in heaven!

Both the boys giggled like crazy and just took off. Often times venturing down different forks of the trail (around a little patch of trees or open grass) and racing to see who could make it back to next fork first. Then chasing after one another. Laughing all the way. There were a few falls, and a few scrapes, but even those didn't dampen their spirits.

Kevin had to keep a close eye on Connor though. He had a great time checking out little paths off into the brush and woods instead of staying on the main trail. It's probably a miracle that he didn't come home itching from poison ivy or poison oak from his exploring.

When we got to the playground it seemed like the boys remembered it from our last visit. They both went to the play ground and right up the stairs and down their favorite slides. Ryan's was of course the "big kid" slide - the tallest one on the playground. Up the stairs, across, the bridge, and up some more stairs before going down the long winding slide. Connor on the other hand did the smaller of the slides - a straight double shoot off the main platform. They slid right down, hopped off and ran back over to the stairs to do it again, and again.

After a while we headed to the pool at the park and changed into our swimsuits. The kids pool was a large round about a foot and a half deep. The boys had a good time in it throwing and chasing balls. They are starting to learn how to use their lifejackets to keep them afloat and frequently layed down in the water with their floats keeping them up and using their hands and toes to propel themselves around.

As we made the walk back the mosquitoes had come out in force. I swatted poor Connor's head a time or two trying to keep them off of him. We were just walking along and all of a sudden I gently swatted the side of his head. He looked at me like "what did I do??" Poor kid. I carried him most of the way home madly swatting the mosquitoes that had decided I would make a tasty treat. Ryan on the other hand lead the pack and ran all the way back down the trail, again.

The boys definitely like the freedom to just run and explore on the trails. We will definitely have to go back and do it again someday soon. Though this time, in addition to the sunscreen I will have to remember to take some mosquito repellent as well! I wonder... is Off water proof?