More Nolan...what a suprise

I took Nolan to Freeman Park and before long we were over by the creek. It was a cool afternoon but that never stops a determined little boy from getting wet. The willow tree behind him has a branch that is horizontal and runs parallel a few feet above the creek. It also has a branch that crosses the creek. After I told him he couldn't use the tree branch as a bridge he decided he could play on the parallel branch since he has balance beam skills.

So soon I was in on the action and we had a great game of 'grumpy old troll from under the bridge' going (thanks Dora). After at least five or six rounds we were switching places and it was my turn to be the troll. I looked up just in time to see Nolan go off the branch backward into the creek. I looked over the tree branch and couldn't reach him because the tree branch was blocking me. He was sitting in the water screaming with arms frantically trying to grab the slick rocks on the bank. So I went a few feet up and ducked under the branch and helped him out. He was pretty startled and went into a full out wail. I was trying to calm him down and wring him out at the same time and after I told him I didn't give him permission to swim he was able to laugh about it.

Baseball season is a big event to someone in our household. I didn't realize how much Nolan had watched of last year's world series until this summer when Dan was watching some game highlights on ESPN and Nolan identified Manny Ramirez. So we gave him the chance to see Manny play. Too bad everyone at Coors field booed when he was up to bat. When we went to get snacks Manny was up again so we stopped to watch. As you can see Nolan couldn't handle the anticipation and unfortunately he didn't get to see him hit a home run (he struck out, multiple times).

Hopefully we will get to see Manny and Big Papi (Nolan's other favorite player) in the World series again only this time he will have to choose between the two.

I was getting ready to go to the park and heard Nolan in the kitchen. He had taken a bag of McDonalds toys he has scored from an evening with his Grandparents and wrapped them in saran-wrap so they would be safe on the way to the park.