Elizabeth Larrison, Esquire

Elizabeth is currently obsessed with having me tell her stories. She can be quite demanding, which makes me quite cranky. Tonight, she started asking for stories way before storytime. I firmly said no. So she feigned sleepiness, and suggested that because she needed an early bedtime, that would push storytime to right now. I identified her ruse and said I wasn't falling for it.

A short while later, Elizabeth suggested we have a talent contest.

"Great idea!" I said, thinking: Good job, Elizabeth; what a creative form of play.

"I'll draw," said Elizabeth. "Because I'm good at that. And you can tell stories, Dad, because that's your talent."

Flying Solo at Oaks Park

To give Barb some time to herself on the Saturday before Mother's Day, I took the kids to Oaks Park, our local amusementarium. It was Barb's suggestion, and I was not enthused about the idea of taking two little kids to a crowded amusement park on the (so-far) hottest day of the year.

Ugh.

But we had a great time! Elizabeth took good care of Suzanne, holding her hand so she wouldn't get lost, sharing treats, and just going out of her way to make sure Suzanne had a good time. (And, notably, not being upset by the fact that with only one parent and a two year old, we were restricted to the little kid rides.)

Because it was crowded, the lines for almost everything were long. So we didn't get to do as many rides as we'd have liked. But the girls got an Icee to share and an ice cream cone each (because I am an enabler, and they are sugar addicts).

I did something I thought I'd never do: played a carnival game (the squirt-gun/clown's mouth thing) and won a teddy bear for Elizabeth! Then failed twice to win a teddy bear for Suzanne.

All-in-all a great kick off to the summer!