Jump Around!!!

Today, being the last Thursday of the month, is outing day for the playgroup.  Months ago, I picked Monkey Joe’s.  The concept is a big noisy room with bouncy inflatables.  Add sugar, pizza and kids.  Shake and pour.
I tested this outing a few months ago, when the weather was super hot and I wanted a place in which my girl could run around without fear of cooking to death.  At the time, Elly only “sort of” liked it.  Now, at age 2-and-a-third, she enjoyed it much, MUCH more.  Most of the other kids had a good time.  A few of the younger ones, under two, were overwhelmed, but seemed to get a kick out of the experience when they found themselves alone in a bouncy-box.

I even got into the act.  At Monkey Joe’s, the kids pay, and the parents are free.  Parents can go into the inflatables to “help” their kids figure things out or get up the ladders, so I followed Elly into the Ocean Oasis for Toddlers.  There was much bouncing and I worried about my insides getting jumbled, but it wasn’t too bad.    Elly and I went up and down the big slide together, too.  (She climbed up all by herself. ) At the bottom of the slide, we both fell over in peals of laughter!  I would have done that all day long, but Elly was satisfied with the first experience.  The biggest physical strain of the day was wrestling Eleanor back into her shoes when it was time to go!

I’ve been pretty proud of Eleanor’s behavior over the last few days.  She’s been really very sweet.  There’s been a lot less of the usual caterwalling and self flinging to the floor.  I like this kid a lot more than her old, cranky self.  Even though she missed her nap yesterday (she sang to herself in the crib for 90 minutes, then we had to go meet grandpa at the pool), and she is over tired today, she still is keeping her poop in a pile emotionally.  I know she will have good days and bad days and days where she’s just all two and stuff, but she seems to be growing up.  Stay tuned to see where Eleanor’s personality jumps to next!