the park that's never open

before we were kicked out: Thomas's first silly swings

We tried to visit a fun nearby park with our playgroup friends yesterday. We all arrived, unloaded our cache of sand toys, started getting out snacks and water bottles, and just as the children had taken off their shoes and the moms had started catching up...

...out comes a woman in an official-looking red t-shirt to let us know that the park was closed, set aside for the private use of the on-site preschool.*

Pack up the sand toys, put on the shoes, gather up the children, wipe away a few tears of frustration (some of which might have been mine), and begin that business of loading up and strapping in the children. Off to a new park!

one of the ten minutes Lucy wasn't on the swings

Luckily, no children were dismayed in our new playground choice, and they spent the rest of the afternoon playing astronaut/monster games on the merry-go-round, swinging, digging in the dirt, and running around the playground.

The sun broke free of the clouds before we left, which made it mighty warm, especially for those of us actually pushing the merry-go-round around (faster! faster!). So, a stop at the drive-through supermarket** for Popsicles on the drive home.

*Which is absolutely fine, except that this standard closure - every morning until 12:30 - isn't posted on the park's website, even though there's a handy tab for "events." What's the point of a website if information like this isn't posted. (And what's the point of a public playground if it's never open?)

**Yes, drive through supermarket. I've never visited it, although it's a Delaware County institution. When I pulled up, I told the attendant I'd never visited before and he loaded me up will all sorts of information. Later, Peter told Kevin "the helper was really nice and gave Mommy all kinds of stuff." Although, Peter might have thought the helper had given us Popsicles, since he later made a thank-you note "for the man to say thank you for the Popsicles." Ahem, you mean me, right? Or Daddy, for bringing home the bacon?