James River Landing Park, A Hidden Gem

We went to James River Landing Park for the first time the other day.  For those of you not familiar with it, the park is located along the James River on the Southside.  Take Robious Road and turn as if you are going into Bettie Weaver Elementary and/or James River High. Then keep going straight, eventually veering off to the left to go to the park.  Stay straight to go to the boat launches, dock, and picnic tables.  

Needless to say, we loved it, but I couldn't help thinking, "Why the heck haven't I been here before?  What a waste!"  Oh, well, crying over an unused park is like crying over spilt milk -- it just doesn't help anything.  Let's face it -- we are spoiled here in Richmond with so many great parks and activities from which to choose.  I definitely wouldn't enjoy being a mother nearly as much if I were out on Timbuktu with nothing to do.  So thanks, Richmond!

The park is quite a generous size and well secluded with its own spacious parking lot, which is quiet as it is not connected to a through street.  We met some friends and were the only ones there, so my friend Dawn and I felt like we could actually relax there and let Sam and his buddy Nathan run around to their hearts' content without worrying about any kind of traffic. Needless to say, I really enjoyed being able to hold more of a conversation than usual with Dawn, as well as to be able to focus on the boys' latest pirate project, making "pirate toast" out of fallen tree limbs.  Don't ask because I have no idea either.  Let's hear it for active imaginations!  I bet Bill Gates had a remarkable imagination at that age, too!  

Ah, it's peaceful back there!  There are slides, bucket swings, and all sorts of funky things to spin around on, hang onto, etc.  However, other than some covered picnic tables, there is no shade to be had, so keep that in mind when you plan your outing.  The day we were there it was beastly hot (surprise, surprise).  Nevertheless we all had a great time and then decided to "hike" over to the main area, using the trail leading right from the park.  The boys were thrilled to be "hiking" for at least a minute of two.  We mommies were thrilled to be in the shade to cool off for a few minutes. 

Once at the landing, it was a whole different world -- a few degrees cooler with a refreshing gentle breeze blowing.  Aaaah!  We checked out the floating dock on the river and did some fishing with Nathan's mini-pole.  The water was so clear we could watch the fish swimming around, munching on cereal that Dawn thought to scatter for them.  Forget the worms, who knew that Cinnamon Life made such great bait?!

I was already planning our next trip in my mind -- we'll bring a picnic and sit at the tables on the bluff overlooking the river, then fish with Sam's Pirates of the Caribbean fishing pole.  We'll bring Daddy Mac and the kayak, too.  Oh, and can't forget the main attraction, too -- the park. It's hard to choose, but it's sure nice to have all the options.

LibbY

Mary "Monster" Park -- Or Is It "Munford?"

Sam and I went to the playground at Mary Munford Elementary School today, which he promptly dubbed Mary "Monster" Park.  I had to laugh, but 'munford' sure does sound a lot like 'monster,' doesn't it?  Ah, if only I were clever enough to think up that quip on my own! This was my first trip there, his second, and it was well worth the extra drive to get there -- not that anything in Richmond is very far from the get-go.  

Mary Monster is located in the Near West End and takes up the block between Cary Street and Grove Avenue where it intersects with the block between Westmoreland Street and Commonwealth Avenue.  The location is quite central, and there is lots of parking, so it's the perfect place to meet up with friends from across town.  But the best of all reasons to go there is quite simple --  it's a fun park that appeals to kids of various ages.

There are two sides to the park.  One side is more traditional with wood chips, while the other is a huge labyrinth of wooden walkways, complete with swinging bridges, and little towers to climb up.  Sam gravitated to the wooden side and had a grand ole time racing around, exploring the nooks and crannies and turning the towers into pirate ships.  That was until the day camp let out and the "big kids" overtook the playground. 

At that point we decided to jump ship and head to World of Mirth, a treat for both of us.  Sam was absolutely dying for a Playmobil toy, but I held fast to my resolve to lay off the toys for a while.  Then I dragged him to the Hall Tree to scout out some bargain clothes for him next summer.  He fell in love with the three way mirror, dancing around with three of his reflections putting Hannah Montana to shame.  Aha!  Out of the corner of my distracted eye, I discovered some "real" Polo shirts for $5.  Can't beat that!   

And a fun morning was had by all.  Thanks, Mary Monster, for your hospitality!  Hopefully the folks at the Hall Tree will soon recover from the messy diaper I changed in their bathroom!  I did take it with me at least.

LibbY

Ponying It Up at the Farm

Today Sam had his very first pony ride -- and loved every second of it.  Holy cow! It seems just like yesterday that he couldn't even hold his own head up.  It's all one big blur -- that's what three years of sleep deprivation will do for you.

it was yet another reminder that he is a separate person from me with his own likes and dislikes.  I'm personally not into horseback riding at all.  The sport really doesn't interest me, and horses kind-of-sort-of-really-do scare me a bit, although you've probably figured that out by now.  I guess having the next door neighbor's horse step on my foot when I was in third grade didn't help my comfort level around them.  Don't get me wrong -- I do like horses in the abstract.  They are beautiful, sleek, dynamic animals, but they just aren't my passion.  I've never read "Black Beauty" even as a girl, and don't plan to seek it out at the used bookstore the next time I'm there either.

Anyway, we went to the farm where my friend Katherine grew up.  When she offered a pony ride, Sam was all over it.  I was so surprised at his genuine interest but wasn't sure if he would really follow through without getting all freaked out.  He sure did follow through - he was the first kid on the saddle with "Dolly," and rode that pony with great pride, TWICE!   

I was shocked because I had presumed his indifference, my bad.   Seeing him perched happily up there, I was really proud of him and tried not to let on my own discomfort around horses, yes, even ponies.  It was astounding to see the huge smile on his face and how comfortable he was perched up there with no one helping him.  Who knew?  Not me, that's for sure.  It's yet a another reminder that he is not me -- he is him.  He is Sam, and it's my job to get to know him and love him for who he is.  Yiddy up, Sam!  Yippy kay yay!

LibbY

A Cool Time at Crump Park/Meadow Farm

Cool?  Did I say cool?  I did say 'cool,' but cool as in neat, not cool as in not warm.  It was warm all right, beastly hot in fact, but we still had quite a cool time.  Sam gave it the stamp of approval as careened home to go meet a painter, announcing, "I want to go back there sometime!"  And I am equally enthusiastic, which will make a future outing something we'll both look forward to, always the ideal especially when driving all the way across town.

Crump Park and Meadow Farm are next to each other but definitely off the beaten path -- 295 to Mountain Road via Woodman Road and/or Staples Mill Road.  However, it was well worth the furrowed brow to find it.  The playground is really quite large with lots of different activities as well as two distinct areas to play in.  In addition, there is a fully covered shelter filled with picnic tables that connects the two areas.  The shelter was a popular place for parents to "chill" (as in hang out, not a chilly place unfortunately) and have a momentary bit of shade.   And last but certainly not least, there was an actual Colonial-looking building with clean, modern restrooms  -- perhaps the hugest selling point of all.  I must be getting old.

Sam had a blast playing conductor, ticket agent, and passenger for hours on the toddler-sized wooden train cars, supposedly headed for Legoland in California.   Heck, I'm game.  Maybe it's cooler out there.  The wooden fire engine was another big hit -- a kid-sized fire engine made out of wood.  The only way to get him out of there was to tell him that Meadow Farm was burning down, and we needed to go over there and put it out!  And it worked, thank God!  

At first the place seemed like a ghost town until we discovered some stray kittens, pigs named Martha and George, two horses, some chickens, and a turkey.  Oh, and there were some women walking around clothes from the 1850's -- full skirts, petticoats, etc.  I can't imagine how hot they were -- and don't want to either.  I sure was happy to enjoy the modern convenience of the AC blasting all the way home.  Now that is what I call cool, really and truly cool in every sense of the word.  Aaaaah!

LibbY

The Philadelphia Story, Part II

This recent sequel did not star Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, or Jimmy Stewart like the first one.  Instead the main players were Sam, Daddy Mac, and myself.  Yes, we wee not top-billing stars by any means, but there was nonstop action to be had!  Read on, preferably with an oversized Philly cheesesteak in hand to set the scene.

The beach thing wasn't working out for this summer, so we decided to go the city route instead. Then when Daddy Mac spied the Real Pirates Exhibit on display at the Franklin Institute, we were sold on Philly.  We stayed in a two bedroom suite at the Marriott Residence Inn at the Airport which worked out really well, except for one little thing.  I must sheepishly admit we haven't gotten Sam out of the crib yet at home, and he is way too big for the pac 'n' play delivered to the room.  Daddy Mac got him all situated on the bed surrounded by pillows, but Sam didn't lie still for long, jumping up every few minutes, exclaiming, "I waked up!  I waked up!"  Nifty trick, huh?  These antics inspired Daddy Mac to mutter, "This is why we are going to keep him in a crib until he is 16."  The best part-- or worst, depending how you look at it -- was Sam bursting into our room one morning (evening?) at 2 AM, shrieking, "I waked up!"  He was so proud of himself I didn't know whether to laugh or throw a pillow at his perky little head. Suddenly home and the bars of his crib never looked so good.

I won't mince words about the drive up there -- hellish.  It all started with Sam asking, "Are we here?" when we were barely a mile down Midlothian Turnpike, just a mile from the house. Then he announced, "I want to turn my ear off."  Not good, not good at all -- that is his own special way of saying he has an earache.  Beware of the Ides of July!  As for the trip itself, MapQuest had it at 4 hours.  Please insert maniacal Joker laugh right here.  

With typical Northern Virginia traffic (really Southern Northern Virginia, from Fredericksburg north to Potomac Thrills), lame directions, and then rush hour in Baltimore, it was more like 6 1/2 hours, give or take a lobotomy or two.  Who knew that so many people live in Baltimore?  I suppose  the Orioles game that night didn't help one bit.  By the time we got to the hotel, Sam was asking, "What mistake did we make now?  Do we need to turn around again?  Are we 

here?"  And he seemed to be getting a cold, too.  Right-o.

After a 5 Am wake-up from the newly emancipated Saminator, the next morning we headed downtown to the Franklin Institute for the Real Pirate Exhibit, the first of its kind in the whole wide world.  I hadn't bought the tickets ahead of time, so I was really sweating it?  What if we drove all the way up here and they were sold out?  Thank God that dreadful scenario was the farthest thing from what really happened.  We got tickets for the 9-9:30 window and were the only ones there, except for one other family with two small pirates, I mean, boys.   

The exhibit was truly amazing in every sense of the word.  First we saw a four minute movie, during the second of which Sam announced, " I am done with this movie."  They traced the history of a real pirate ship called the Whydah from its days as a sailing ship until it pillaged 50 ships in one year.  Then (spoiler alert!) a Nor'easter off of Cape Cod sunk it to the bottom of the ocean, only to be discovered recently through the dogged determination of a pirate enthusiast. In  the exhibit itself, you actually get to walk through the various rooms on the ship, which just blew me away.  AND they had real pirate booty -- gold coins-- that you could touch.  The gift shop at the end was to die for -- hundred of cool pirate things to buy.  I succumbed to buying a pirate necklace, complete with a Jolly Roger on it.  Maybe I'll start a trend in pirate-wear in Richmond.  Maybe not.

So it took us about seven minutes to get through the exhibit, one minute for each hour spent in the car yesterday.  Let's not focus on that or I will poke my eyes out.  The museum had so much more -- a really neat steam train within the museum that Daddy Mac remembered from when he was a little boy.  And Sam got to "drive" from the cockpit an Air Force airplane - really!  I must admit that I was mighty jealous of the people lined up to see the Dark Knight at the IMAX theatre.

After nap Daddy Mac and I wanted to go see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, etc.  However, Sam had other plans for us.  He was obsessed with riding on the subway, so we did.  There was some irony (OK, lots) that we paid $20 to park and then bypassed the Liberty Bell to ride on a grimy inner-city train in 100 degree weather.  It must be love or Joker-type insanity.  Sam looked like he couldn't decide if he was scared or thrilled.  I think it was the former. By then Sam was tired and still not feeling well, so we aborted ship and sat in the car in rush hour traffic (I see a pattern here) rather than wander around in the sweltering head with a sick kid.

Thankfully our hotel let us check out a day early.  On Sunday morning I took Sam to the doctor who informed me that Sam has Fifth's Disease, a virus that makes you achey, congested, have an earache temporarily, etc.  "Don't worry, though, it is in its final stages.  It was at its worst for the last five days or so."   AAAAARGH!  I now know what it feels like to be a Pirate Mommy, just look at my necklace!

LibbY 

A Romantic Getaway to the Jefferson

As part of Daddy Mac's vacation turned stay-cation, we planned a romantic trip for two.  With a trusty babysitter at home for the Saminator, off we went to the Jefferson for the night.  Six years ago we spent our wedding night there, all six hours of it, before our flight to Hawaii at a ripe ole 7 AM.  (Originally the flight was much later, but the airlines changed it at the last minute.)  Since we really wanted to savor the experience this time, we checked in at 4 and headed over to the pool and deck area.  

Something magical must happen at five star hotels because it was refreshingly warm, not overly hot, and not a hint of humidity.  Were we really in Richmond or had we walked inadvertently through a wardrobe into some unknown land?  The new Narnia, perhaps?  Oh, did I neglect to mention the gently blowing breeze?  Ah, it was niiiiiice up there on the deck.  Then Daddy Mac had the brilliant idea to get a couple of beers delivered to us via room service.  No one is allowed to have glass by the pool, so our Coronas arrived in coffee-to-go cups.  Despite the odd packaging, they were quite tasty, memorably so.

After some confusion, we found out that TJ's Restaurant's dining room is closed for the summer.  Yes, it's a bummer!  But... LeMaire is now serving LeMaire food on one side of the restaurant and TJ's food on the other!  Bonus!  So we dined at the elegant LeMaire at TJ's prices.  The food was spectacular - can't wait to go again this summer.

Well, checkout was not until noon the next day, so we decided to make the most of it.  I left Daddy Mac there and headed home at 8 to liberate the babysitter and get Sam ready for camp. Then my plan was to go back to the Jeff and work out, hang out by the pool, and generally live the dream.  Well, the dream was not to be had unfortunately.  

Sam freaked out when we arrived at camp, as he has every day this week.  I gave in because I didn't want to get a phone call from school in half an hour to pick him up when I was all ensconsed at the Jeff.   So the getaway for two morphed into a threesome with the Saminator. It all worked out fine, and we have a great time splashing around playing pirates in the pool, but we just had to laugh at the irony of it all.  There was a couple at the pool celebrating their first wedding anniversary, and I couldn't resist throwing in, "Do this stuff now while you can, because once you have a kid, your life is going to CHANGE!"  They laughed, but one day they will dispensing the same unsolicited advice to some kid-less couple.  It's one of the perks of parenthood, and you've got to enjoy them when they come your way.

LibbY

Fun & Games at Short Pump

Today we went to Family Fun Day at Short Pump, lured by the promise of a free beach ball and a fun time.  We sure are easily bought, aren't we?  There is no need to mention that we could have bought a beach ball far cheaper than the gas it took us to get there.  That as we all know is a blog entry for another day.  Anyway the festival was such a blast - don't miss it next year!  It was well worth the gas, and that is a high compliment these days.

Everywhere you looked, there was lots to do and see -- a stage with an MC, booths, games, food, and a Spiderman a bouncy house.   There were lots of people too, but all ran smoothly despite long lines.  After a stint of playing at the train table at Kidkadoo, Sam's favorite thing was the Spiderman bouncy house, which was really pretty neat.  He liked it so much that we waited in line for a second turn.  The line had gotten even longer which was pure torture for him, as you can see from the picture.  Poor guy, realizing that he is not always the center of the world everywhere he goes.   Who enjoys swallowing that concept?  I spent the entire time talking to him, explaining, "Sam, we all have to wait in line.  I know you don't like to wait.  It's hard to wait.  I don't like to wait either.  Nobody likes to wait.  This is life, Sam -- we all have to wait our turn in line.  It makes things fair.  I know it's hard to wait."  And so on.  The guy behind us in line chuckled, "Those sure are some true things you are saying."  Needless to say, I did not encourage him to wait for a third bounce around the house.

Sam loves face painting, but judging from the line, everyone else there did too.  So we skipped it.  Next time we'll get in that line first.  We got in the food line, trying some Chinese orange chicken, spinning the wheel for Chick-Fil-A freebies, and testing out a Godiva chocolate shake. Not bad at all, but it's hard to mess up when Godiva chocolate is an ingredient.

Then we spotted the huge Chick-Fil-A cow on the loose.  Sam was enthralled, stopping in his tracks to stare.  I encouraged him to go up and shake his hand, and with a big smile he hurried up there and did.  With newfound confidence, he then went over to meet some other PBS characters, giving all three high-fives.  What a hoot!

By then it was time to get some chicken nuggets and hit the road so he wouldn't fall asleep on the way home.  And, yes, there was yet one more freebie waiting for us at Chick-Fil-A -- free ice cream, just the thing to keep him occupied on the ride.  It was the perfect sugary ending to a fun festival.   Plus we had our free beach ball!

LibbY

It's Movie Time!

Sam saw his first real movie the other day in a real theatre with really stale, really salty popcorn.  (No explanation necessary if you grew up in America and not under a really big rock.)  Ah, the authentic  movie experience!  I can't remember my first flick, but I'm positive I was much older than three.  Kids these days, they grow up so fast, don't they?  

I don't really remember going much of anywhere until it was time to get on the big yellow school bus.  Well, back in the day there really wasn't much of anywhere to go -- no train table at Barnes & Noble, no story time at the library, no mall, no Kindermusik classes, no Little Gym, no CMoR, no Short Pump train ride, no Stony Point sprinklers, and no bouncy houses, to name just a few.  

How in the world did we (and our poor parents) manage to survive during those primitive times before car seats, jogging strollers, and monitors?  (Well, it wasn't all that primitive -- we did have a station wagon with wood paneling on the side.)  I suppose we were forced to call upon our imaginations and actually entertain ourselves, there being no Disney Channel or Hannah Montana on a gargantuan flat screen TV to do it for us.  I shudder at the thought. Maybe that's why today's parents want to get out of the house even more than their kids do -- residual cabin fever.  It's a theory anyway.

Anyway, back to the fledgling movie experience a la Sam Macky.  He was all fired up to go see "Surf's Up," had his little box of popcorn, and climbed up into his big stadium seat at Commonwealth 20.  And the movie started!  Sam sat back, smiled, and munched away for a good two minutes before hollering, "I'M DONE WITH THIS MOVIE!"  I shushed him, gave him a squeeze, and went back to watching the penguins do some surfing.  (What in the world?  I must be getting old. )  

Anyway, another minute passed, and I thought I was home free when Sam bellowed even louder, "I'M DONE WITH THIS MOVIE!"  He was done all right, so I was done, too.  It's a package deal like that.  Thank God the movie was free thanks to the generosity of Commonwealth 20! Let's hear it for Commonwealth 20!  

I thought about trying to make him stay, but why?  It was supposed to be a fun thing for us to do together, not a session in How to Sit Through Something You Don't Like.  He's got the rest of his life for that.  So we left.  The funny thing is that he talked for days about what a great time he had at the movies, even telling our pediatrician about the penguins surfing.  I guess he did have a good time for those three minutes, so good for him.  Thus, I consider it a success! Hooray!  May this be the first of many movie in your life!

LibbY

Bi-Coastal Buddies

When I first met my friend Mary, we lived around the corner from each other in the Fan and had all the world in common.  We were both relatively recent transplants to Richmond, worked in rather unfulfilling corporate jobs, couldn't get enough sushi from Akida on Robinson, and enjoyed red wine too much for our own good.   Then Mary had the nerve to land a big promotion and head for California, and I got married and pregnant (in that order), quit my job and moved to Suburbia.

Now seven years later, we no longer have anything in common at all if you look at the stats. She's single, lives in a cool condo in downtown San Diego and drives a swanky BMW.  Her high-level corporate job has her traveling laps around the country and spending way too much time stranded in airports.  (Don't even get her started.)  Since she doesn't have time to buy stamps, she has been known to FedEx birthday cards.  I can speak from experience since I received one such card a couple of years ago and am still laughing about it.  

As for me, I'm in an entirely different stratosphere.  I've been married for six years, live in "all the way out there" in Salisbury, have a three-year-old son, drive a station wagon, and stay at home while writing freelance on the side when I can squirrel some time away, like now.  I've barely flown in years, only to see relatives, and pathetically enough  get excited to break away from Midlothian Turnpike.  

Yet we are still the best of buds.  Mary was just in town for work and stayed with us for the Fourth.  We quickly slipped into our bad habits of excessive wine consumption -- and gluttony. Since we couldn't find a babysitter, Mary suggested that we get take-out from Flemings, expensed to her company of course.  

Who in the world gets take-out from Flemings?  And that begs the questions -- does Flemings even have take-out?  The whole idea was ridiculously hilarious to me.  Well, the answer to the first question is that Mary for one gets take-out from Flemings.  And yes, Virginia, Flemings does indeed have take-out.  And it was goooood, or as Rachel Ray says, "Yum-O!" We feasted on portobello mushroom fries, calamari with aoli, fresh mozzarella and tomato salads, a 16 oz. filet, tuna steaks, chocolate lava cake, cheesecake, and ice cream.  Oh, and the four bottles if wine were much nicer than anything we've ever bought.  All that and more was on our kitchen table, with the added ambiance of Sam's booster seat and ABC placemat.

LibbY

Let's Hit the Sprinklers

Today was one of those iconic summer days -- going to the Stony Point sprinklers with some good friends and their kiddos.  Well, except for one thing -- Sam had no interest in the sprinklers.  Zilch, nada, nothing.  He didn't even get wet.   Oh well, what are you going to do?  I just tried to remind myself that we were supposed to be going to the sprinklers for him to play, not for me to gab to my friends.   You see, the gabbing is supposed to be the side benefit, not the main feature -- or at least I tell myself that.  

Alas, I was a little disappointed but not too surprised since he had no interest in the sprinklers last summer or the summer before.  And the summer before that one he was in his fourth trimester, so we barely left the house.  However, I did see virtually all the footage of Hurricane Katrina and the confirmation hearings for John Roberts to the Supreme Court.  Oh, and how could I forget, we also watched Lance's last Tour de France before he decided to kickstand his bike and come back to America and hit on every celebrity blonde he could find.  Anyway, I digress.  

OK, so he wasn't into the sprinklers at all, but he sure was into browsing around Build-a-Bear, Hollister, and Sur la Table.  It was actually pretty hilarious.

Choo-choo! Woo-woo!

Sam's third birthday party was lots of fun, and the fire truck really did show up -- twice!  It showed up for the first time right at 10 AM before anyone had arrived.  I felt awful sending the firemen away for fear that they would not return, but off they went to do some grocery shopping and came back a bit later.  All hail, Midlothian's Station Number !  The firemen were great guys -- friendly, informative, patient and encouraging with the kiddos, and so proud of what they do. If only we all had such job satisfaction!

Last year Sam's party was really big with loads of Mommy and Daddy Mac's friends and their kids.  It was a lot of fun, but this year I really wanted it to be HIS party with his best buddies there to celebrate, so we only had five kids.   As a result I think he had a much better time because he didn't feel bowled over by a tidal wave of strangers.  The guests seemed to have a better time, too, because it was more relaxed, and the 'rents most definitely enjoyed themselves.  It was so nice to be able to actually have a conversation and enjoy the moment while still playing Hostess with the Mostess.

LibbY