Flashback: Alligator Lake

After our little scare at the beach last week, I have been reflecting on a memory where my own Mother must have felt a similar type of panic.  

I had just celebrated my fourth birthday and my brother was two at the time.  We lived in some small apartments in Florida.  It was a nice little complex which contained a private pool and was within walking distance to a lake complete with a wooden dock.  However, as in relatively common in Florida, the lake was home to a population of alligators. 

I used to watch them, holding very tightly to my Daddy's hand, as the alligators sunned themselves in a scaly row on the banks.  The dock did not have rails and I remember clutching Daddy's hand very tightly walking on that slightly swaying dock and looking into that murky water, fearing a misstep would make me a tasty meal.  My parents were always very clear that this lake was dangerous and I must never go there alone.  I was very cautious and more than a little scared of the lake and the alligators and had no intention of ever going near that lake without a trusted adult.

However, after my fourth birthday, I had been praised as being "such a big girl!" I really believed I had done all the growing I needed to be big enough to visit that lake by myself, just like an adult.  While I did fear the alligators, I was also aware that from a distance it was safe... and they were fascinating to watch.  

So one morning, I decided I would take my little brother with me to the lake- by ourselves, to watch the alligators--not on the dock of course, but from a safe distance in view of the bank.  At the time, child leashes were popular and my little brother had one.  I hooked him up to his leash and led him, toddling, to the lake, slipping out the front door quietly, some sense telling me my mom would not be a fan of my plan to go without her.

 Because it was mid-morning, many adults were at work and no one else was around. Miraculously, neither were the alligators. None were sunning themselves on the bank.  So we took a seat high up on the bank and waited, I holding the end of my brother's leash while he sucked on his pacifier.  

I'm not sure how much time passed, but we did not see any alligators.  We became bored and I decided it was time to head home. A few steps into our journey home, we crossed paths with my Mom, who was looking frantically for us and headed our direction.  

I was in enormous trouble.  I was scolded and disciplined. Not long after that, my Dad installed a latch high up on the door, one I could not even reach by standing on a chair.  Not long after that adventure, there was a news report on t.v about a young child who was a victim of an alligator attack while swimming with some older kids in a Florida lake (a different lake than ours).  Looking back, we were very fortunate that day.  

The Shore: Part 2

After the scare with Ryan, I watched both children myself, instead of letting Larissa and Ryan disappear on their own.

We found a tide pool away from the reach of the waves. This captivated them for the rest of the afternoon.

It was deeper in some spots than others, but both kids could stand, even in the deepest part. 

Ryan became braver than I've ever seen him in the water.  He allowed himself to lay on his back with his head back, he crawled on his belly and put his entire face in the water, trying to blow bubbles.  And he was successful!

He was so very proud of himself. 

 Dylan loved being on his belly.  He would pick up handfuls of wet sand and smush it between his hands.  He would crawl on his belly and kick.

Then he saw the seagulls. 

So he had to chase the "birdies." 

So they chased the birdies for a while. 

 And of course before we left, we tried to build a sand castle.  Dylan enjoyed knocking it over.

Around that time, the heat from the day was giving way to cool breezes and although it was still sunny, there was not the same measure of heat beating down.  We went back to the car and I changed the kids into clothes.  We picked up the stroller and went for a stroll on the board walk.  I have never seen the kids eat so quickly as they did that night.  They had worked up such an appetite. 

 We stopped at kiddie land, where the rides are.  Dylan doesn't quite understand the concept of waiting in line or tickets determining the number of times you ride a ride.  So I was glad he slept through this until the very end.  He did enjoy riding on this fire truck, which went around in a gentle circle.

 Ryan impressed me with his bravery on some rides that would have terrified me at the same age.  He rode every ride with his Aunt Larissa, including this one where he was stretched out then lifted up high and spun in a giant circle.

 And this roller coaster.  He enjoyed this so much he wanted to do it again!

And this giant swing.  He loved all these rides.

It was a great end to a nearly perfect day....minus those ten minutes Ryan went missing.

The Shore: Part 1

We were all so excited to go to the shore.  I couldn't wait to see the kids reactions to the sand and waves. It was the first time Dylan had gone since he was two months old and Ryan's first time back since he was about two and a half.  At that time, Ryan was terrified of the waves and water and spent the entire time in a shady, sandy spot digging near the ocean grass, as far from the ocean as he could get.  

I had a theory that Dylan would be different.  This spunky little guy loves water and sand. I had a feeling I would have to be very very watchful with him.  

Ryan allowed his ankles to get wet but continued to be fearful of the water, just as I had expected he might be.  And as I had theorized, Dylan had no fear.  He enjoyed running into the waves and jumping in the surf.  He enjoyed squishing the sand between his toes, curling and uncurling them.  He enjoyed grabbing handfuls of sand and watching them sift through his fingers. 

Ryan and Dylan were digging a giant hole with Aunt Larissa and filling it with water.  I was standing by the hole, which Dylan was standing in, when my mom approached and began to discuss the dinner and evening plan.   Ryan had been running into the little ankle deep waves to fill his bucket with water and return to dump the water into the hole.  A few minutes into talking about our evening plan, I realized Ryan had not returned to put more water in his hole.  I scanned the crowd of bodies in the water and did not see him.  Mom watched Dylan while I took a few steps along the beach on each side, looking.  No Ryan.  I did find Larissa.  But Ryan was not with her either.  Where was he?? Now I was getting really...really worried.  Perhaps he ran back to our umbrella and towels.  I made my way back, where my dad was sitting at our spot.  He had not seen Ryan either.  Where was Ryan? I was feeling a touch of panic.  It was extremely crowded on the beach....did someone TAKE him? He was JUST there, and then he was gone.  Was he in the water? Did a wave knock him over? Did he panic? Was he drowning right this minute? Would I have to leave that day WITHOUT him? That thought made me feel sick to my stomach.

We were all looking for him and there simply was no sign of him.  Minutes had been ticking by, it was time to report it to the lifeguard.  Feeling like a horrible parent, I told the lifeguard, "I can't find my son." 

The lifeguard had just gotten off of his radio.  "Is his name Ryan?" I exhaled in relief, "YES." 

The lifeguard asked what he was wearing for confirmation.  I told him.  He told me, "I can take you to him. He's down there...." he pointed many yards down the beach to the next lifeguard post standing distant along the shore.  HOW DID HE GET THAT FAR DOWN THE BEACH? I wondered.  AND SO QUICKLY. 

As we walked the lifeguard told me someone saw him wandering around by himself and took him to the lifeguard post.  A concerned mom.  They met us halfway between the posts, this concerned parent who found my son, and a second lifeguard.  Ryan had a look of worry but did not look like he had been crying.  I was able to thank everyone.  

We have talked about what to do if he is lost before or if someone tries to take him. I have always told him to find a mom with kids. That a mom with kids is a safe person to go to.  I am very thankful he was OK.  

Not Ready For Summer To End

We just haven't been ready to say goodbye to summer.  Many friends and family have been beginning first days of school this week.  Instead, we took a surprise trip to see my side of the family.  Ryan adores his Aunt Larissa, who dotes on him and constantly plays with him.  So my mom and I thought it would be fun to surprise Larissa.  She had no idea we were coming.  

A secondary purpose for our visit, other than spending time with family, was to look through my mom's old homeschool curriculum and prepare for the school year. In our homeschool days, my mom had enough curriculum to stock a small elementary school and much of it is still laying around, collecting dust.  She had offered to give me any of it I could use.   So I have spent several hours this week sitting in the crawl space opening boxes and making piles of educational treasures and organizing a plan for the year.

Of course, it hasn't been all work.  Mom is too fun for that.  She couldn't resist taking us to the Franklin Institute and Drexel to see the dinosaur bones. 

 Ryan got to meet Ben Franklin.  We also went to the Omni Theater and saw a show on butterflies.  Ryan was super impressed with how the screen gave the illusion of movement.

 At Drexel, Ryan enjoyed looking at the dinosaurs and dinosaur bones.  

 In the butterfly house, we were able to observe the different stages of the butterflies from caterpillar, coccoon, to winged creature. 

There was also an exhibit on animals that are biolumenescent, creatures like glow worms, anglerfish, and fire-flies.  They had a dress up area that the kids could pretend to be jelly fish and lightning-bugs.

 And a place to dress up and pretend they were under the sea to see the anglerfish.  

When it was time to leave, Dylan couldn't be parted from a stuffed eel they had as a prop.  He was pretending it was a snake, making it slither and hiss and calling it a python.  So, Grandma could not resist spoiling him.

He left with a giant stuffed rattlesnake.  Which he slept with, which meant I had to sleep with it too, since he's bunking with me this trip.  Yes, I had nightmares.

Sunny Sunflowers

 Nothing says "summer" quite like a field of sunflowers.  

 They are such "happy" flowers.  I found it impossible to resist taking a few pictures.  

 The kids humored me.

We Went South and Found Summer

Living in the great white North, summer has pretty much peaked by the end of July and August brings a general cooling off.   We went south and found summer alive and well bringing humidity so thick you could cut it with a knife and 90 degree days.  Ryan's Aunt Connie suggested a fabulous activity, hiking to a little creek to catch tadpoles, crayfish and minnows to beat the heat. 

 The water felt so nice and cool on little toes.

 Ryan was introduced to tadpoles, and worked hard to catch them and put them in his bucket.

 Cousins Rachel and Sarah were BIG helpers with the little ones, holding hands to keep them from slipping in slimy spots.

 Amanda and her "favorite guy" check out a crayfish shell. 

 Anna is showing off her catch to Katie and Sarah.

At first, Ryan was scared to get in the water, but with the help of his cousins he soon became bolder and walked deeper and deeper (almost to his knees).  

 Finding tadpoles is so much fun!

A "romp of Kangai" just before leaving.

On the Road: Our Hotel Experience

Recently, we took a trip to see family.   I love road trips, but this one was fairly significant averaging 12 hours each way with potty stops, traffic, construction and food stops.  On the way there it was agreed we would break the trip up with an overnight stop in a hotel.  This was exciting for me since Ryan has no recollection of being in a hotel and this time he would be able to appreciate the experience of a comfy room, little bottles of shampoos, soaps, trips to get ice from the ice machine, and perhaps a contenenental breakfast.

Traveling was complicated by our pooches.  They travel well, but bringing them makes finding a spot to stop for the night a little more interesting since we need to find a place that accepts dogs.  We price-lined a room at a place called Red Roof Inn.  We've had positive experiences with them before, and the room we found was a great deal.

Around 1a.m. we pulled into the place.  Josh offered to take the dogs up to our room first and then come back to help with sleeping kids, so I waited for him.  But when he returned he told me our room had some deficencies that concerned him. Primarily the fact that it was missing it's door knob. He said he would find it hard to sleep there also considering when he walked in, the headboards were laying on each bed.  I agreed that wouldn't work.

So he asked for another room.  He was given a room in an identical state of re-modeling.  Strike two. The lady apologetically offered him the "best room in the house." At this point it was about 1:30 am and both of us were feeling rather put out.  When we pulled up to the "best room in the house," the neighboring room's door was wide open and inside it was pitch black.  Josh, brave man, walked in said room and I wondered if he had taken leave of his senses.  But when he came back, he said the alarm was going off and he didn't want to hear it all night.  Our new non-smoking room, did have it's door knob and appeared to be put in order, but reeked of smoke.  Both kids immediately started to cry upon entering, loudly, that they were hungry.  I reminded them that it was 2 a.m and nothing was open, but they could have a banana, because that was the only thing I had to give them.   They each took one bite and then fell asleep.

So much for a great hotel experience!