April Outing Part 2

Hey Guys,

Re: Casey's comment about "that's the Christian God..." - This was in the car on the way home - I didn't hear how they got onto the subject, but Venice had said something about God and that was Casey's response - the conversation then shifted to another topic...

When the kids were walking along the dirt/muddy path near the river at Skinner Butte Park, I finally came down because they were drawn to the water's edge way too much for our comfort - The water was swift, tho just slightly slower along the river's edge - But the drop-off was steep most of the times, and it looked really cold - The air temp was probably in the low 50s, but the river is snow run-off so it's going to be way colder....Both Granny and I admonished them about safety and how cold the water was and how you'd go into shock just from the temp, and that could/would affect your ability to swim - Casey muttered sotto voce that "nothing bad's going to happen..." He kept saying that every time we commented about the swift moving waters and the slipper slopes...

Being there with them along the muddy pathway I was able to keep them corralled more, much to Casey's consternation - He grumbled, but didn't disobey me when I called them back onto the pathway, tho he kept mumbling "Nothing bad's going to happen..." After we'd sort of run out of energy and they were ready to return to Skinner Butte Park proper I was walking with Casey back to the bathrooms and told him that I thought it was good for him to think outside the box and push his own limits back there when we kept pulling them back from the water's edge - I said that was because of our life experiences, but his thinking was in part a good thing because it would stretch him....But, I added that the other half of this was his making sure he had the skills and abilities to meet various possible emergencies - I told him that he wasn't yet a good swimmer, and the cold shock could immobilize him - I added that where they were wanting to walk was precarious with slippery muddy slopes and tangled roots, which could trip them or a slip could throw them into the water - so it was necessary to have developed skills to know where you could walk safely, and that because of life experiences I knew more about those kind of things - in any cases, I told him he would need to develop such skills to go along with his pushing the envelope to insure his own safety...

Casey was quiet thru this, and didn't have any comments when I asked if it made sense to him....I reassured him that Granny and I were concerned with their safety, that's all...

Silence...

Jiichan...

April Outing

I picked up Venice and told her that Xander was sick and she was concerned and wanted to swing by the house to see him, or call him. I told her she could call him. By the time we got to the car, she had forgotten about calling him, but she said she missed him. Then on our way to Skinner Butte, she asked me why they call it Easter Sunday. I said I didn't know, because Easter is always on a Sunday. She gave me a very funny look and said no that wasn't so. I said yes, it moves around as it is a lunar holiday, unlike Christmas which is a solar holiday. Anyway, she didn't seem to understand and was sure that Easter fell on other days. She quickly shifted to the fact that with her bday, she gets two holidays in a row...her bday and Easter.

After arriving at the park, the kids played a few minutes and then decided they were bored and wanted to go home, we suggested a walk along the river, the loved the idea and off we went in the direction toward Alton Baker Park. Venice was sure she knew where some berries were. They wanted to go off the paved path and walk on the dirt path, so we said okay. We stayed on the paved path, but they kept leaving the dirt path to get closer to the river (Teiya often leading the way). We kept calling them back to the paved path. So we went to the dirt path, They weren't able to see that the river was swift, deep, and no sandy type beaches...just slippery mud fall offs. At one point I told Casey that it was dangerous, they all insisted they could swim. I explained that the river was very cold and moving quickly. Casey, insisted that nothing bad was going to happen. I explained that Jiichan and I were old and wouldn't be able to save them. I explained that cold water puts you into shock and that even a teenager would have a difficult time. Casey was mad, but obedient. I felt bad that here we were in the midst of a glorious playground and had to keep pulling them back. We did finally find a slight inlet that was sort of shallow that they could throw rocks in and get some enjoyment. We have to find some better walks as they can be free. On the way back in the car all were with Jiichan and Jiichan suddenly hears Casey saying, "that's the Christian God,." Have no idea what they were talking about.....

At the house we had a lime soda, which Casey learned to open with a church key. He got to practice on a second one and got proficient. Then Teiya requested tea. So we got the tea things out, I put the tea kettle on and we set the table - which includes various teas, potato chips, and of course sugar.....Teiya chose oolong, Venice chose raspberry zinger, Casey stayed with his lime soda. Then I helped Teiya put her tea bag in the cup, added hot water, squeeze the tea bag and take it out, put in an ice cube, then she added one heaping tsp of sugar. Stirred it, sipped it, said that's good and went and got water which is what she drank!! I drank some of her tea, but it was way too sweet for me. Venice did her teabag, sugar and I don't know about ice. She drank all her tea. They all ate chips...

Granny