Cockroaches, butterflys, dragonflys, oh my!

Bug Fest at the Norman Public Library! Holy six-legged, chaotic fun!!! My daughter made a butterfly from a coffee filter, a "book worm" bookmark, an abstract maggot painting (don't ask), got her face painted, and petted the most gigantic bug I've ever seen. My son squirmed, tried to escape, ate a fried meal worm (how's that for a double entendre), and tried to escape some more. I've decided he's at a very inconvenient age: too big to hang happily in a stroller or carrier, too small and wild to really be let loose. Nonetheless, it was such an amazing and fun event. We followed it up with our delayed park picnic play date. My kids' favorite park is conveniently right next to a very busy train track, so it is noisy double-fun. So happy for a day of fun, free, nap-inducing activities ('cuz you know I like someplace to go)!

Sometimes, you've just gotta roll with it!

I have had the best of intentions to do lots of wonderful and outdoorsy things this week. Instead it seems that there has been lots of fighting, lots of yelling (ironic since this is what I "gave up" for Lent) and lots of my son running around with big wads of his sister's hair. It seems my beautiful baby has a slightly sinister side. Yesterday, I planned a picnic lunch and play date at our favorite park. Instead, the morning started bad and went down from there. By 10:45 my patience was gone. Instead of our great park day, I robotically fed the kids their sandwiches and fruit, and plopped them in their beds by 11am. Nearly in tears with frustration, I self-soothed with great quantities of hummus, carbs, and DVR'd Rachael Ray. And, what do you know, they both took really, really long naps! After we were all rested and calmed, we did manage to salvage the day just roaming our own neighborhood. We played at the playground, inspected the daffodils in the greenbelt, visited the turtles in the pond, and basically had a free-range day. The lesson I (hopefully) learned is that sometimes I over schedule our day, as if I am frightened of the prospect of a whole day at home with the kids. Turns out, sometimes an unscheduled day is okay. Maybe that's what the little monsters were trying to tell me yesterday morning!