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| Captain of the Boat |
This past week Steven started a difficult rotation in the NICU working two weeks of night shifts. While Edmund and I go about our day, he is at home sleeping. Fortunately, Steven got a couple of days off before the craziness began. We toyed with doing a simple overnight or day trip while he was off, but couldn't get coordinated enough to plan a trip. However, we were finally able to make it to Pullen Park in Raleigh. It had been almost 3 years to the day since our last visit and we were thrilled to return, especially Edmund. Although I doubt he had any memories of the place being that he was only 9 months old the first time. Pullen Park is about a 20 minute drive from where we live in Durham and somewhere we would have gone more frequently had it not been closed for two years for renovations. I must say the wait was well worth it.
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| Train Ride |
We ventured out on a a beautiful Friday morning. I had heard crowds were ridiculous on weekends. Although we were lucky to be able to go as a family on a weekday, the place was still packed, but not so much as to not have a good time. Edmund has been begging to go on a picnic, so before we left we packed a cooler full of food. The park has a new, local food cafe, but the picnic seemed the more adventurous way to go.
When we arrived at Pullen Park Edmund was in awe of the multiple play structures before his eyes. There is a swinging section, a playground for children 2-5, a playground for children 5-12, a water and sand area, and a caboose. Edmund had to check it all out, but the caboose took first priority. After getting my ticket punched (a leaf from a bush) Edmund and I climbed aboard and kept our eyes out for Daddy who had gone to park the car. Edmund could have stayed in the caboose all morning, but there was more to do. After our caboose departure he went from playground to playground exploring all there was to offer. Mommy and Daddy even did some playground exploring of our own. The playground was definitely part of the park overhaul and well worth it, although I believe Edmund only used the swings his first time anyway.
After spending a good deal of time at the playground, we went and purchased tickets for the train that runs along the perimeter of the park. When we first arrived the line for tickets was long, but by the time we were done "playing" there was hardly a line at all. We were even able to board the next train with minimal wait. Edmund went through a period about a year ago where he was terrified of riding moving trains, but he has since conquered the fear and had a great time. He loved waving to the passersby as we rode around the park.
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| Carousel Ride |
Next we decided to head to the carousel. I let Daddy do the riding with Edmund on this ride. I wasn't sure how much spinning I could take. The antique carousel was there on our last Pullen Park adventure, but now it is housed inside an air-conditioned building. This was nice for me while I sat and surveyed my two horse riders. Steven helped Edmund mount one horse and then got on one of his own. I had thought he was going to stand next to Edmund, but I thought wrong. I have to admit there were times I thought Edmund was going to fall off his horse as the carousel twirled around, but Steven assured me Edmund was holding on for dear life.
Once the carousel ride was complete and I was sure my child was still intact, we decided it was time to eat. Edmund helped choose the perfect spot for our picnic lunch and dined on carrots and apples. Although he had insisted we pack a PB&J sandwich, he didn't show it much interest. I decided to get one item from the cafe and chose seasonal veggies. I absolutely loved the roasted beets and squash I had, especially since my foray into cooking beets the previous week had been a disaster. I finally satisfied the craving for beets I'd had for several months. As we ate we watched children play ball on the lawn and talked about our final activity, a boat ride. While in line to board the train, Edmund had spotted some adorable kiddie boats and asked to ride. Tickets for all the attractions are just $1 each, so we couldn't refuse.
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| Picnic Time |
Edmund boarded his boat and graciously gave up his spot in the front to a pair of siblings. This was such a kind thing as the kids in the front can ring a little bell, and Edmund clearly was in line first. Edmund still had a blast steering his boat around the water, and when the ride ended we helped him up front to have a turn ringing the bell. This was the perfect way to end our morning. The park does have a pond and paddle boat rentals that will open later in the season. We'll certainly check those out on later trips, but Steven and I knew we were already pushing our luck with nap time. As we headed to our car Edmund said "I liked this park," and I must say I agree.
