Rocks, Bounce Pillows, and Ice Cream; Visiting Purgatory Chasm and West End Creamery
We had plans to visit Purgatory Chasm, have some lunch, and wait for West End Creamery to open. These two places are only about 5 minutes away from each other and my boys LOVE the chasm. I have been wanting to visit West End Creamery for a while since I have heard such wonderful things about them and their delicious ice cream.
We arrived at the Chasm around noon and had some lunch. On the way to the picnic area near the playground the boys climbed a few rocks and slid down one really large one. They happily played and ate and we never even made it into the chasm.
They met some kids on the playground and had so much fun playing they didn't want to stop. Not having any real agenda for our day, other than getting back to our fun family outings, I let them play.
It was hot and sunny and all the boys were getting pretty sweaty. One by one all the kids we met left and so we decided to head to the creamery.
On the way to our car we stopped in the building and looked around at all the nature displays they have set up. We looked at the Luna moths and read about them. We looked at a giant bulletin board about the boring beetles and learned which ones to report and which ones are native to our area.
We bought an all day pass for mini golf and the bounce pillow for $11 each. We started to play mini golf and I'll be honest and say it was an hour or so of torture. The boys seemed to enjoy it, but I couldn't relax and have fun.
It was crowded and my boys don't really know how to golf. We were holding people up behind us and had to stop and allow them to play through. They all lost their balls a few times, in the water, in the bushes, in the grass-- we could not keep them on the green.
At least one time I thought they were going to hit something with a ball.
They yelled at one another as they each kept touching one another's ball or got in the way of someone's shot.
I was looking so forward to hole #18 and wishing we had only paid for the bounce pillow!
Amazingly enough though they seemed to enjoy golfing and would like to play again another day when it's not so hot.
Looking back I wished I could have joked, laughed and gone with the flow instead of getting all uptight and upset with them. I was sighing, rushing them along and kind of killing the fun. I don't know why, but I know I was.
We moved onto bouncing and that was a lot of fun. I even joined in and we worked up a great appetite for some nice cool treats.
They made some new friends and after playing a few bouncing games like popcorn and tag, and seeing who could bounce the highest and the farthest we took a break to try out some of their ice cream, sherbet and Del's Lemonade.
We jumped a bit more and then decided to head home and cool off in the lake.
As I write this I'm reminded about how annoyed my boys made me today.
I have tried making them save up money and pay for their own things.
I have tried pointing out the things we get to do that many of their friends never have, I have tried everything I can think of, but it all seems to go in one ear and out the other.
Maybe I'm making to much of it, but I am so sick of my kids taking everything for granted and always wanting more.
If anyone has a suggestion or a solution, please feel free to share!!
Linking Up With:
We arrived at the Chasm around noon and had some lunch. On the way to the picnic area near the playground the boys climbed a few rocks and slid down one really large one. They happily played and ate and we never even made it into the chasm.
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| sliding down the big hill |
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| They had so much fun spinning in circles |
It was hot and sunny and all the boys were getting pretty sweaty. One by one all the kids we met left and so we decided to head to the creamery.
On the way to our car we stopped in the building and looked around at all the nature displays they have set up. We looked at the Luna moths and read about them. We looked at a giant bulletin board about the boring beetles and learned which ones to report and which ones are native to our area.
We bought an all day pass for mini golf and the bounce pillow for $11 each. We started to play mini golf and I'll be honest and say it was an hour or so of torture. The boys seemed to enjoy it, but I couldn't relax and have fun.
It was crowded and my boys don't really know how to golf. We were holding people up behind us and had to stop and allow them to play through. They all lost their balls a few times, in the water, in the bushes, in the grass-- we could not keep them on the green.
At least one time I thought they were going to hit something with a ball.
They yelled at one another as they each kept touching one another's ball or got in the way of someone's shot.
I was looking so forward to hole #18 and wishing we had only paid for the bounce pillow!
Amazingly enough though they seemed to enjoy golfing and would like to play again another day when it's not so hot.
Looking back I wished I could have joked, laughed and gone with the flow instead of getting all uptight and upset with them. I was sighing, rushing them along and kind of killing the fun. I don't know why, but I know I was.
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| Fishing the ball out of the water-- again! |
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| waiting for a turn |
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| Fishing another ball out of the water |
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| Jumping and bouncing! |
They made some new friends and after playing a few bouncing games like popcorn and tag, and seeing who could bounce the highest and the farthest we took a break to try out some of their ice cream, sherbet and Del's Lemonade.
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| Best part of the day!! |
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| The boys have fun playing with a new toy while waiting to order their treats |
As I write this I'm reminded about how annoyed my boys made me today.
- It was torture to get them out of the house.
- They complain when we're home and they complain when I plan trips.
- I have offered to take them to the aquarium, the zoo or even the science museum and I'm getting shrugs, "whatever," or my personal favorite "I'll only go if you buy me something at the gift shop" as a response. Seriously?!?!
I have tried making them save up money and pay for their own things.
I have tried pointing out the things we get to do that many of their friends never have, I have tried everything I can think of, but it all seems to go in one ear and out the other.
Maybe I'm making to much of it, but I am so sick of my kids taking everything for granted and always wanting more.
If anyone has a suggestion or a solution, please feel free to share!!
Linking Up With:
Ever thought of doing a "without" weekend? For one whole weekend, they do without TV, IPODS, car rides to ANYWHERE, no ATVs, video games, no jet skis,basically EVERYTHING that they take for granted. Even YOU! You would be present for supervision only, but would not do meals, laundry, or taxi service. No phones...no picking up after them, no cleaning...you get the idea. This would be hard for you and your husband, but would hopefully clue the boys in on how fortunate they are to have the things they have and DO the things they do.
ReplyDeleteI love that idea!! It would be a bit hard, but I'm sure we could do it! Thanks.
ReplyDelete