Had a surprise opportunity to spend the day with the little girl today.
We went to Grand Days in Saint Paul. There is a special area just for children where they had a pony ride (which she loved), two different inflatable bouncy houses – we ended up doing both bouncy houses – twice, because we’d bought $10 worth of tickets and had to get rid of them somehow.
She wanted (and got) some mini-doughnuts. Sat down for awhile, and listen to some jazz artists under the shade of some trees.
Oh! Syd the Sloth (“Ice Age”) was saying hello to kids, and she ran right up to him and gave him a big hug. I was fortunate enough that I had my camera ready and I think I got a good pic of them. Syd, by the way, was at least twice (or maybe even three times) as tall as her. But, she wasn’t scared at all.
She did not want to go on any of the kiddie “spin” rides which was fine by me (don’t ever want to be the one that gets her sick from a “carnival” ride on my shift – besides, she’s still a bit young for that type of thing, I think).
There was one of those sledge hammer, bell things, one for adults, and a much smaller one for kids. It was pretty tough picking up the kid sized sledge hammer but she did it (with help), and first try, the bell rang! She picked out an inflatable Ariel mermaid as her prize, carrying it under her arm for the rest of the time we were there.
There was a great group of college-aged kids, playing various percussion instruments (bongos, congas, etc.), on the side of Grand Ave, with a huge cloth tarp set on the concrete, with a vast assortment of percussion “devices” for kids to join in and play with. Initially she was kind of reluctant, but once GranPaBrian picked up the cowbell and was playing it like the madman that he is, she wanted to play it too, along with a baby xylophone, some maracas, even a triangle, and other noise producing stuff. It would be so nice if she became interested in playing in “band” when she gets older. We’ll see.
Later on, we came across Scooby Doo and Shaggy who were greeting kids and giving them high fives – I think I got a pic of her, with the high five and another one of her hugging Scooby – hoping they will turn out (will try to upload them in the next day or so).
(I forgot to write about Lailah, feeding the goats at the petting zoo, and also her painting at the “Wet Paint” painting area…you can see pictures of her doing both, at:
Photos of Lailah
)
I think we had a nice time together (a bit more than 4 hours there), before heading for home – she fell asleep on the way home, after crossing into AV (always happens at the McAndrews traffic light), and then once home, we both had a long nap, me on the couch, she, on the bed in the MBR. I checked on her a few times, and each time, she was in a totally different position (head and feet positions reversed, etc.), sprawled out, or snuggling with her fav stuffed “animal”.
All in all, a great time with her today.
She. Is. The. Best.
