Rest Stop Realization

On our way home from Amarillo we stopped at our usual rest area to play.  Thank goodness it was the perfect day - what are they thinking not putting a canopy above these playsets?  There isn't a real tree around for miles and the slides are dark green, a combination that equals *ouch* for little legs when the temperature gets above 80 or so.  Anyhow, it was hot on the playset, but not burn your legs hot, so everyone was able to have a blast!

Mike headed off to the playset with Gracie & JM first.  Here are a few snaps of the fun they had together:

Then watch out, here comes Clara!

Gracie headed off to play on her own while Clara took over hanging out with the little man.  They had a blast going down the biggest slide time and time again.   Here they are on their way up:

And my fave picture of the day:

I only wish John Michael would have gotten in it, but he had more important things to do, like go "drive" the fire engine on the other side of the playset.

So why did I title this the rest stop realization?  Take a look again at the first picture.  Notice all three children in one shot and no adult hovering nearby.  Mike and I both had the same "aha" moment at the rest stop, realizing that this was really the first time we had been out with all the kids and were able to just sit back, watch and enjoy.

What a treat to see them all growing up, especially John Michael, on the day before his second birthday!