Divergence

Being a parent is an education. I find that as I navigate through the various challenges (and joys!) of parenting, they are often an opportunity for self reflection. For example, Will loves ball. I mean, REALLY loves ball. Any kind of ball, soccer, tennis, basket, base, kick, dodge, golf, Play Doh, ANYTHING spherical presents an invitation to play. I really have no basis for comparison, but I think he's pretty talented at putting the ball where he wants it. He has great aim and great concentration for a two and a half year old. He can kick, throw, put or shoot an object into a goal. And he's strong. And very strong willed. 

For example, we took Will to the Big Time Fun Trampoline Center in Arvada. Will and I had been there once before and had an absolute blast, and this time we went as a family. The place is amazing- it's a giant warehouse padded to the gills with foam and duct tape and has huge, floor level trampolines all over the place. 

You can roam everywhere.

It has a foam pit, a giant bounce house/obstacle course, a dodgeball trampoline room, a maze, some video games and lots and lots of noise. 

It is a fantastic place to go to burn some energy. 

There's a place with a playhouse and slide for smaller kids.

Will is always wiped out after spending two hours there.

However, he exhibits a laser-focused single mindedness on the balls. Video evidence:

Playing basketball with a little assistance.

We were finally able to cajole him into the bounce house.

 I was sharply reminded of my own insistence to do activities focused on horses and only horses. I have a vivid memory of my own mom waiting around in dreary weather waiting for me to finish what must have been really tedious horse back riding lessons. And for that I thank her.

I learned another lesson about Will's will. Halloween is coming up and we knew we would be trick-or-treating. Also, we wanted to attend a big Halloween carnival at the Englewood Recreation Center. We have been watching a lot of Go Diego Go and we thought Will would be jazzed to dress up as Diego. As I have few creative outlets these days, I thought I'd get all crafty and make Will's costume for him. I got really excited about making it. The costume is fairly simple. A sling back orange backpack and a vest with a badge and of course, a video watch.

I ran all over looking for a Diego vest. No way was I, The Artiste, going to buy some stupid cheap-looking commercial costume from Party City. I was going to make the real deal! Plus the costumes were $35, and I wasn't going to spend that kind of money.

I couldn't find a white vest. So I tore the sleeves off of a khaki button down shirt in Will's size. I bought fabric markers and white iron on "mending" fabric. 

I studiously copied the Animal Rescuers badge from the show. 

I scoured toy stores for a "Baby Jaguar" (Diego's animal sidekick). The closest thing I could come up with was a stuffed tiger. Will seemed OK with it until he realized that the tiger didn't have any spots. So I drew some on with a fabric marker.

Eventually I caved and found a little Baby Jaguar at a toy store.

I bought some neon orange fabric spray paint and soaked an old backpack that I had. That didn't work out too well.

So I bought a "real" Rescue Pack (it was free, I had some bonus points, thank god).

And then. Will wouldn't put it on. He was excited about Baby Jaguar, but he wouldn't wear the vest or the back pack. So he went to the carnival like this:

I probably spent as much money making the costume as it would have been to buy. But I had fun anyway. The experience itself was worth it. Although I did get annoyed with him for not wearing a vest on which I had spent SO MUCH TIME and EFFORT. But hey, not about me. Big lesson learned.

He was into drawing on a pumpkin. So that's good.

Happy Halloween!

Activate!

You read that right, it's the Spanish language command: Activate! Read: Acteevahtey! It's from Go Diego Go, which we watch A LOT. Diego is a million times cooler than Dora who I guess is written for a younger crowd. Although, Dora did rescue Diego from a stranded ice floe with her helicopter. 

This weekend we took a short trip to Glenwood Canyon west of Denver. It was fantastic! 

It's high alpine country with many golden Aspens shivering in the slightest breeze and towering pine trees. Glenwood Canyon itself is a narrow gorge formed by an agressive Pleistocene era Colorado river cutting through layers and layers of sedimentary rock.

We stayed at the Glenwood Canyon Resort in a tidy cabin that accepted dogs. There was a Ropes Course, zip line across the river and Colorado river access for rafting and fishing along with a bike path that seemed to run the length of I-70.

There was also a playground. Because Will's language is developing so quickly and he is able to pick up and retain new words and ideas, he can repeat his requests over and over again until he is refuted (which means he collapses on the floor in a paroxysm of grief) or he is appeased. So, to the playground we went. 

Often. 

å

He proved himself quite adept at climbing up the child's climbing wall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ9bxKaOux0

We went to the Glenwood Hotsprings. Which was awesome, an enormous series of square pools, naturally heated by thermal vents.

We went to an Octoberfest (featuring fantastic brats and Spatzle and a really good cover band) and hung out near the music and food. 

We brought the dogs, but Tony was a little weirded out by the noise and crowds.

Will fell asleep hard and fast. 

But woke up in time, thirsty and requesting water.

The next morning we walked the dogs.

And had a family bike ride.

We stopped at a rest area to throw sticks for Tony.

And to dabble our toes in the water.

We enjoyed the beautiful views.

  

The last day, Sunday, we had planned to take the tram up to the top of Iron Mountain. But Will had hit his limit. He whined for his "mama" (pacifier) relentlessly until we packed it in and headed back to Denver. Will took a long and needed nap in the car.

Lastly, a few videos from prior expeditions:


Will plays in water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FCFktSRNJ8

Will on the bouncy pillow at the Corn Maze: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_IUBCqJ7d4

Will and I at the Butterfly Pavillion in May: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5SKAA08RRE