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| idyllic day |
| 08.04.05 (6:42 am) [edit] |
It's hard to believe, but we had a near-perfect family day this past weekend. DH wanted to go to the beach, but many of the local beaches have been closed for swimming (due to bacteria, etc., ewwww). The closest beach in Evanston was open but does charge an entrance fee. (We never got around to buying beach tokens.) So DH said we could try going to the Skokie Water Playground.Note: I tried to add a couple of photos, but tBlog crapped out on me. So I posted two to Flickr. Check my Flickr badge to see where we were. The SWP has several pools: 1. A zero-depth pool where you can lie in a few inches to two feet of water and pretend you're in the lake (minus sand, rocks, creepy things, etc.). 2. Two giant water slides for grownups and big kids. DH the Fearless went down one -- which was mostly enclosed and pretty fast -- and it even freaked him out. He actually didn't want to go back on it, and this is a guy who was exhilarated when he collided with a car while on his inline skates. 3. A little wading pool with big stone dolphins that toddlers can climb on. 4. Mushroom-shaped fountains to play under 5. The main feature; a huge water play structure with two kid-friendly slides (long and a little twisty but slower and not as steep as the bigger slides), tons of interactive features, and a HUGE water bucket that regularly dumps a huge amount of water on those near it. 6. A separate sand pit area with a long sand & water table and a small todller-sized climber. Jake was thrilled by the whole thing. We got there shortly after 11, when the park opens to the public, and we were able to snag four lounges right next to the Bucket Structure. Since I'd sunblocked the kids before we left, Jake was immediately ready for the water. Danny, meanwhile, took his usual "I'm scared" pose, which is to stand or sit with his hands glued over his ears. DH took Danny for a little walk around while Jake and I got wet and then hit the water slides. After going with me twice, he was ready to take them on his own. Danny was not as thrilled. He sat in my lap, blanketed with a towel, while DH and Jake played. Danny did like watching the giant bucket dump water on everyone. Then DH took the little one to the zero-depth pool. When Jake and I went to check on them, Danny was happily sliding off the side of the pool into DH's arms -- with his hands on his ears. He even went down the water slide with DH twice -- with his hands on his ears. We were at the SWP for two hours before Danny decided he was ready to use his hands (so he could climb up onto the "dolphings"). Both kids had a light lunch at the snack bar, and we pulled them somewhat reluctantly out of the park in time for Jake to watch the Cubs game at 3. The great thing was that everyone had fun (even the grownups), and everyone was well-behaved (even the grownups). It was crowded enough to be lively but not insane. We did see lots of leather-skinned older women wearing strapless bikinis (G-d bless them for their lack of self-consciousness, if nothing else), but that was probably the worst thing there. There were plenty of lifeguards keeping an eye on things. The kids and I wore enough sunblock that we all got a little healthy-looking color but no burn. (Can't say the same for DH, who doesn't apply indoors, and then blew off applying block outside. His entire back was fried. Note, this is the guy who freaks if I'm out in the sun too long... I did get a little teasing in.) The outing wasn't super-cheap (Danny's entrance was free, but it was $37 combined for Jake, DH and me), but next summer we can buy a family season pass for less than $200. I think it's well worth it. We're hoping to fit at least one more visit in, perhaps when DH's mom comes to visit at the end of the month. ["Where Are You," Spamalot] |
posted by: almsthvn (reply)
post date: 08.04.05 (7:44 am)
WOOOOOOOO
Ok, if we DO meet up there... I'm a'thinking..... WOOOO!!!
oh. and a puffy package is winging its way to you as we speak :)
posted by: almsthvn (reply)
post date: 08.08.05 (1:42 pm)
Can I come out and play?
posted by: JT (reply)
post date: 08.09.05 (4:41 am)
Reply to: almsthvn
YES!!!!!
Visit the
Honeysuckle Shop.
Buy early, come often.