Friday Date Day: Round 1.

Inspired by my friend Andrea, who takes the cutest dates with her little guy Bresho (you MUST check out her blog - it's fantastic), I've designated Friday's Kale and Mama Date Day. Having Friday's off work for the summer is a huge perk, but takes an enormous amount of effort to get my work done in four days. By Thursday night I am exhausted, but nothing can melt the stress away quite like a day with Kale.

This Friday we decided to take advantage of the incredible weather and hit the beach. Our choice of beaches is somewhat limited since the only water in this city is a man made lake. For a girl that literally grew up on Georgian Bay, this has been the hardest part about calling this place home. Anyway, we have to make the best of it, right? So we headed to the beach on the man made lake. 

Before we could get to the beach we had to pick up snacks and so we headed out the grocery store bright and early. Kale found a ball and kept throwing it from his perch in the cart, screaming and laughing like a wild man. We thought it was hilarious. Others who were shopping at 8am? Not so much. By the time we got back Kale was ready for his first nap (he's still showing no signs of moving to one nap a day). Once he was up, we packed up and headed for the beach. As soon as Kale saw the water he headed right for it. See the shovels in his hands? I don't think he put them down once the entire time we were there. That meant that when he tripped in the water, he wouldn't drop them to put his hands out and he'd fall face first into the lake. Despite doing this several times and swallowing a few good mouthful's of water, he still held his shovels tight in his fists.

We stayed for a couple hours and had so much fun. But let's be honest here. Taking a toddler to the beach by yourself is a lot of work. We had so much STUFF to bring with us (diaper bag, change of clothes, lunch cooler, toys, towels, etc.). And you can't take your eyes off them for even 1/25th of a second near the water. A couple hours was definitely long enough for us.

When we got home Kale had a frozen smoothie bar, which he proceeded to squish in his hands and smear all over his face. When that didn't amuse him enough, he took a clothespin and smooshed it in the smoothie bar. Whatever floats your boat, kid.

We negotiated a little and Kale promised he'd have a nap after a trip to the park so off we went. Notice he's still holding the shovel? Oh, you should know - the shovel is actually metal. Kind of made me miss the soft bristles of the toothbrush. True to his word, Kale came home and crashed and I curled up with him. Oh how I miss the baby naps. So sweet.

When we woke up our friend Lexy came over with her son Hudson and the boys played while I got dinner ready and we caught up. Kris came home quickly from work but then was out the door for soccer. Kale and I spent the rest of the night going for a walk, taking another trip to the park, and being silly.

It was pretty much the perfect day, but we did miss papa. That's why we woke up today and went back to the beach (as three).

I know. I forgot his hat. Worst mom ever, right?