Toddler Wonderland

Carrie took Shane to a toddler wonderland Tuesday. They joined the preschool playgroup from church at a kid's play center and got a discount!

Shane loved it. Carrie chased him around for a couple of hours before nap and then handing him off to me at our "shift change."

That's when I learned that Shane's admission was still covered the rest of the day.

Play areas rock.

Adults were allowed to accompany their kids in this one, too! The whole place was more geared towards younger kids than a Chuck E Cheese, Discovery Zone, or Leaps and Bounds. It was empty enough near closing that I ran around with Shane! Woo-hoo! It was the most exercise (and acid reflux) I've had in a long time!

I'm a big kid with an unfair size and speed advantage whose knees pay the piper later. Maybe that really means I'm old, but I enjoyed chasing Shane around in between catching my breath!

If there had been more kids, I would have sat back and let Shane interact. It's no fun to run by yourself, though.

There was an "imagination center" in addition to the climbing area.

First, Shane ran to the post office.

I guess I can tack postal worker on the list of possible careers Shane's interested in. He does love maps.

Next, we ran to the pizzeria.

Then the supermarket required looting.

It was heavily picked over, but Shane managed to get all of his tornado supplies.

Lastly, Shane charged into the animal hospital (he doesn't really walk all that often).

I'm not sure that's where vets give the animals shots, though, Shane.

My sides ached. I eventually told Shane to try the paw to give the animals their medicine. He said "OK!" and I wiped away a few tears.

We ran through the jungle gym maze the last twenty minutes or so before closing. I told Shane he could go down one more slide before we left, so, naturally, he ran in circles and avoided every slide until I went up to force the issue. Then my little lawyer insisted we go down the purple slide. When we got near the purple slide, he changed his mind. The blue side was the right one (and also on the opposite side of the maze...hmmmm). Clever bugger.

When we got to the blue slide, Shane refused to go down. He wanted to pick another slide! I told him "too bad," and the melt down started.

Shane cried and cried when I pulled him out. He told me that he had no fun and he would never go again! He's pretty dramatic.

I finally got him to admit he had fun and he told me he was ready to visit Monkey Joe's next! Shane's a fun loving boy!