One step of the bucket list: COMPLETED

I realized today that with the "excitement" of us being sick, I forgot to mention that we completed one item of our bucket list:  to fly a kite.  Last Sunday, Dan and I packed up the stroller, had the boys climb in, grabbed the dog, and hiked the mile up the hill to Nystrom's Pond.  It was a slightly breezy day, not completely warm, and not too cold.  But it was the perfect afternoon to spend as a family and to get a workout in for mom and dad too.

While we were walking up to the park, I had these visions in my head of the boys being amazed with the kite and fighting over who would get to help launch it into the air.  I had visions of us all huddled as a family singing songs, while watching the kite dance in the air.  However, reality struck once we arrived at the park.  Carter took off with his soccer ball to go play with the older neighborhood kids, while I desperately tried to launch the kite with Pierce as my helper.  It was an epic fail.  I finally gave up and handed the kite over to Dan, and told him good luck.  He couldn't even get the kite to launch, and he is the expert kite flier in our family.  Pierce lost interest in the kite, and realized there was a slide, some swings, and an old fashioned see saw to be played with.  Carter couldn't let his brother play alone, so we all ventured over.

After playing on the slide for about 30 minutes, Dan FINALLY had success getting the kite up in the air.  The issue with the kite that caused the problems?  The strings that hold this parafoil kite together were completely tangled.  Pierce now had a renowned interest, and had a blast helping Danny fly the kite.  It still didn't last long, and he was much more content catching Carter at the end of the slide, and playing with his brother.

While my visions of the boys squealing with delight as we all sing and hold hands flying kites did not happen completely, something else did.  The boys played together.  Well.  No fighting, no screaming, no whining.  Pierce thought it was so cool to catch Carter at the end of the slide, and Carter had so much fun conquering the old fashioned type ladder up the slide.  They both had fun playing with their baby doll that they brought in the stroller, and "teaching" her how to go down a slide and sit on the see saw.  Watching my boys role play, learn, and cheer each other on was the best ending to my Sunday.  In the end, it does not matter what my visions may have been, it is the learning and growing that took place that really matters.

My trusty kite helper.

Being an amazing big brother, and loving it.

He did it!

Still amazes me how big he is...

Trying to help Daddy.