Playdate with Sunshine

After working out this morning, I got a text inviting us to meet at the park. Immediately all my luke-warm plans for the day flew out the window, and to the park we went!

It takes a good ten minutes of convincing/bribing to get William on board and out the door.

When we finally got there, 15 minutes late- in true Mary fashion, the boys scurried off with very little encouragement. The weather was glorious. There isn't a better word to describe it. The air was cool and the sun felt warm. 

Hearing little voices mingle and interact in the play area was a sound-board I forgot I missed. The giggles among the squeals, with parents calling out in their diverse languages- such a melodic score as we reacquainted ourselves with the sun.

Matthew was playing on a teeter-totter with his friend, Beckett. I tried to get a picture of him smiling, but he kept making silly faces whenever I'd pull the camera out. I tricked him by saying, "You got me!" This made him laugh, and gave me this picture right here:

 

And to give you a better visual of Matthew's goofiness:

He'd intentionally slide off and stick his tongue out. What a stinker. :)

 Matthew and swings. I mean, seriously! 

His laugh brings me so much joy. It is just so easy, delightful, and without any reservations. As I push him and he laughs, I see strangers walking by smiling, and I always seem to make a new "mom friend." His cheerful giggle is just magnetic that way. 

William was in constant climber mode the entire time.

"I'm king of the WORLD!"

Yesterday after church, William said, "Mom. I'm a man now. Wanna know why? I'mma man cause I can buckle the front of my back pack by myself."

At one point William was clear on the other side of the park playing on the slide. Matthew was with a couple of friends when he heard, "Maffew! Help me!!" Matthew ran as fast as his little pudgy, uncoordinated, toddler legs would take him, pumping his right arm at super speed.
He had this stoic look of determination, "I go. I go 'elp W'liam! W'liam! I COMIN'!" They are cute little friends.
It is tricky, however; getting them to interact with other kids. Not to mention interact with other kids and be socially normal about it. For one, I think being separated during this winter hibernation has procured a new dialect between the two of them.
Also, I caught them teaming up on other children a couple times and it kind of made my heart drop a little bit. At one point, I walked up to William and found him growling at a little boy. That little boy did not know this was a friendship mating call on behalf of my son, it didn't go well. So, it looks like more park days are in our future. I'm sure the kids at the park don't mind being my boys' social interactions guinea pigs, right?? I have some work ahead of me!

On a more positive note, it was really fantastic to interact with other adults. The sun felt good on my skin and their conversation felt good on my heart. :) Yes, I said that. So cheesy poetic.

Also: this picture of Caity and Johnny walking home from the bus stop on Harry Potter Day last week?

Did they look ready for the weekend or what?