Today, I made good on my promise to take the grandchildren someplace special. I kept them out of day care in order for us to have some fun time together this summer while I am still free. Of the major options (the Children's Museum, the Indianapolis Zoo, or Splash Island here in Plainfield), the Splash Island "poo" seemed to be everyone's favorite--so that's what we did.
But before we left, there was mayhem. One of the children emptied the contents of a large salt shaker into a bowl and on the table. One of the children tore couch cushions and blankets out to make a fort in the living room. One of the children took a picture of himself with his mother's digital camera. One of the children found his mother's gum and was chewing it without asking. And what was Gramma doing that they could do all of this? Not paying close enough attention, obviously--but it's pretty darned hard to be everywhere! Finally, just before we left the house, I ordered both of the kids to the couch and told them not to move or touch anything until I could get our stuff together to go. It wouldn't have worked for long, but it did for the moment.
What a great place Splash Island is! A very large part of it is little kid friendly. We were issued hospital-type bracelets indicating that the children were responsible to an adult "within arm's reach"--and my bracelet indicated that I had children with me who were to be "within arm's reach". I'm not sure what the purpose of that is unless it is simply to remind the adults that they couldn't NOT pay attention. Both Robin and Ryan (non-swimmers) were reluctant to experiment too much at first. Ryan especially. As time went on, they both warmed up a bit to the water, but I had to watch them like hawks. (They would have had to go some to get in water deep enough to hurt them, but still...) After twenty minutes or so, I noticed that a number of children were wearing life jackets that had PPR (Plainfield Parks and Recreation) on the back. Hmmm... I asked a father if they had to be rented; he indicated that they were ours for the taking for free. Nice! I got the kids each outfitted with a life jacket--and that changed everything! Robin continued to splash around like a little fish, practicing her version of swimming and holding her breath under water,--and Ryan dog-paddled his little heart out. I was still with them every second but neither clung to me. They had a blast! Entrance price and a snack cost about $20, but it was the best $20 I spent all summer!
Ever mindful of the kids' tender white skin, I slathered them both with sun block that was about the consistency of peanut butter, and both had hats to wear. (Ryan wouldn't wear his...and his skin is even fairer than Robin's.) The only part of Ryan I really couldn't cover with the block was his little cheeks--and that's the only part of him that got any sun. That stuff really works!!!!
We came home happy, but the minute they hit the door, the children were back to squabbling. (I think they were hungry.) Robin spent quite awhile in the bedroom in time out for biting her brother not five minutes after we got home. I threw some supper together. The kids got to bed relatively early--and all was well.
Sprash Iwand (as Ryan calls it) was a success. The only thing that wasn't particularly good was that I got a glimpse of myself in my bathing suit just before throwing an oversized t-shirt on and a ball cap. I was hoping no one would recognize me--and they didn't, largely because there was no one there that I knew. Thank God!
We'll probably do Sprash Iwand again in another week or two. We wiked it!
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