Ahlatibel Park with Friends

A couple weeks ago, Elias and I had a little excursion to one of the large parks with some American friends. We packed a picnic and played on the playgrounds - it was fun! As with most of the larger parks, it's a little too far to be worth it for us to try to get there on public transportation, but with a friend who drives, getting there was a cinch! She said we were a little early in the season so not all of the attractions were open. In the summer, this park will have pools, trampolines, and other fun things to play on too! We had a good time just at the big playground - we're not too hard to please.

Elias (in the red pants) with his buddy Eli. They go to the same preschool, although Eli is in the older class.

This was quite a large playground with several slides, tunnels, swings, merry-go-round, and see-saws. Elias' favorite is always the curly slide!

However, this one also had a two-story slide you had to climb up a ladder to get to, and Elias really dug that one. He's never been really confident on ladders, so he asked me to help him up the ladder for most of the time. But with my encouragement and help, he was climbing the ladder by himself like a pro by the end of our visit!

When we discovered that almost all the playgrounds here have a gravel base, we got Elias a little bucket and shovel to take to play with the rocks. He loves it! I've been pleased and surprised to see that a large number of other kids we see at the playgrounds also bring rock-playing gear. Boys love rocks!

Another of Elias' favorite things at any playground is the merry-go-round, and this one was special because it was more like a carousel with animals to ride on. Elias. Loved. It!

The playground also had this gigantic swing that the kiddos liked.

Then on the way home to celebrate our fun time together, we stopped and got ice cream. Seeing the boys enjoy their chocolate ice cream in pure boy fashion, we decided we had a new rule for life: You know it's been a good day when you have chocolate up your nose. :)

Eli's little brother, Noah, isn't quite 2. He isn't in the other pics because he can't keep up with the bigger boys... Yet!

Thankful for friends, beautiful weather, and fun adventures!