The Walk

After the Egg hunt (last post) we had a nap then went for a walk. Originally, we thought of going to the park. Megan insisted on walking, so it took a bit longer. We had to stop to pick up every rock and point out all the pebbles. After we got up the street, we realized a walk around the block was more realistic.

This cement pad looks like an ordinary cement pad to the untrained eye. But Megan saw its true potential as New Haven's newest and most happening dance club. We stopped here to dance for about 10 minutes. First Meggie danced, then she had me and her dance, then me, her, and her piggy. Then me, her, her piggy, and a very nice stick had to dance together.

We finally got her to move off the dance pad to help mommy hug a large tree. After a few good hugs, she saw these nice steps and pulled me over for a good sit. We got up, almost got to the next set of stairs, and came back for some more good sits.

After we passed the stairs, we saw a dog. Megan kept asking me to take her to kiss the puppy. He was across the street, so it was too far. I suggested she try to kiss the squirrels that were on the grass. I didn't realize this would be a whole shebang. She chased those poor squirrels for about 10 minutes, yelling, "kiss a squirrel, kiss a squirrel." They realized she wasn't a big threat, so didn't scurry too far away. This just encouraged her because they were constantly just out of reach.
The squirrels finally went up a tree and we moved on. Sort of. Megan decided to play in the bushes on the hill for a while.

After we passed the bushes, there was a nice grass hill to run up and down.

Once we finally coaxed her down the hill, we find these neat wood steps. Who can pass up wood steps? We had to give them a try.

Hey look, there are more bushes at the top of these steps!

And why climb just once. She is going for some good cardio here.

Piggy had to stand at the top. She loves to share her triumph.

Past the wooden steps were some concrete ones. Yay! Up and down, up and down. Now with piggy, now with daddy.

Over an hour into the walk, we were only half way around the block. Melanie was crying and we needed to go. We finally had to strap her in the stroller. She protested strongly, but this is not a democracy.

We were almost home when we saw Megan's friend Madison and family in the courtyard. Megan suckered us into playing in the courtyard again. She rode the little bike thing first.

Then it was the swing. She loves the swing. Sometimes she puts her hands up in the air and yells, "Yay!" After this shot she said, "No. No pictures of Meggie." I guess she likes to enjoy her swing without the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

We finally left the courtyard and were almost inside our apartment when she broke away and went down the slide a few times.

I asked her to come inside, but she wanted to "touch a the rock" first. How could I say no? I indulged her, but you know what they say--give them an inch.

She wanted to go inside the other playground. The way she complained would make you think we hadn't been outside ALL DAY. She was almost all the way squeezed through the gate when I finally put a stop to it.

It really was a great day.