It's all about the treats

Tonight we decided to have a family dinner early and then take the kids to the park and maybe for a treat. We had a good two hours just to relax and have fun. We so rarely do this, so it was a perfect opportunity.

We spent a good hour playing at the playground and enjoying each other's company. Ellie even made some rock chalk drawings with me again - her request. Max is learning to climb like a monkey. There's nothing he's afraid to try out. David indulges Ellie in games of chase and make believe (such as this evening when Ellie was the make believe witch.)

After playing at the park, we also took a good half hour walk around the park. I showed the kids the little fuzzy tails that grow on the end of tall grass. Ellie was quite interested. I think that was probably because I rarely pick up nature, more less encourage her to do so, and she just loves it.

After the walk, we promised some ice cream. We took them to Jimmy Cone and everyone got their own treat - even little Max. The boy may have eaten about 100 - 125 calories worth of dinner and claimed he was full, but boy did he want to polish off his own ice cream cone. I tried helping at first. He kept saying, "I do it. I do it." So finally I gave up and gave it to him. He would do it a while and then hand this soggy, drippy, mess of a cone back to me for help to clean it up and allow him to inhale more of it. We had a good little process going. He'd stick out his tongue and I'd wrap the cone around it trying to catch the drips on a perfect summer evening. It was cute. Even the little girls beside us, 4 and 5, commented on the messy state of Max. But he was happy. So happy, that when he was done and got down from the picnic table, he turned around, squatted down and growled with excitement. David said he looked like the sugar devil, or something like that. It was funny and a bit scary all the same. That boy really doesn't eat enough to be allowed such treats, but I do like to indulge in the treats and love to share it with the people I love, especially my children!

Ellie too enjoyed her treat. She's learning to handle ice cream cones a bit better these days. She also enjoyed some conversation with the girls beside us. I can just see her now in a year when she's going into kindergarten. She's going to have so many stories to tell me.

We came home and finally got the kids in be around 9pm. But before I laid Max down, I realized he'd thrown up a little bit. That was just too much a treat. Nearly 40 minutes later and he's still laying up there jabbering to himself. That sugar and caffeine combo is so new to his pristine little body.

What a great family summer evening!