Friday, July 21, 2017

Adventure Land

Today, the family spent some quality time together.  We only have a limited amount of time before Caz goes off to Auburn.  Demi and I want to make sure we do a lot of family activities before that time comes.
     For this Griswald family activity we chose the zip line/rope course at Heritage Museum & Gardens in Sandwich, MA.  Demi had come across it online.  After checking it out, it seemed like a good idea.  It is not that far away.  This is one of those times where the event exceeded expectations.  That place is amazing.
     There are all levels of trails/courses.  It is set up like a ski mountain, green trails, blue trails & black diamonds.  The safety features are ingenious.  A climber is locked into some safety rigging at all times.  That doesn't mean you can't fall and hurt yourself.  But you are not going to plunge to the ground.
     The first obstacle seemed ridiculous.  Especially, for a green (beginner) level trail.  The rules state a climber has to attempt the trails in a progression, from easy to hard.  This felt like we started on a much harder trail.  Caz was already having a hard time, just getting up to the platform.  He has a tremendous fear of heights.  Caz was a trooper though.  He powered through all of it.
     I thought he might bail on the blue trail.  He thought about it.  He almost declined.  But then two girls around his age got in line behind him.  His pride would not allow for him to back at that point.
     The ropes were a great workout.  We were very tired at the end.  It was a good idea that the management put a rule in place to have water in between trails.  The family then headed north to Plymouth for a reward.  We got seafood from Woods Seafood.  I crossed an item off my summer bucket list by having fried flames.  The boys got their lobster rolls.  Then we got cupcakes to go for later, from Cape Code Charlie's.  What a perfect day.

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Levitate 2017

Today didn't turn out quite as planned.  But that is just fine.  It turned out better than expected.
     We lucked into some passes for Day Two of the local Levitate Music Festival.  I only really wanted to see the closing act, Ziggy Marley.  I did want to spend time with the boys, so is would go for as long as they wanted.  Early in the day, Coco said he didn't want to go.  That is fine.  I am not going to force him to go.  Caz wanted to go.  Caz then asked our friend, T-Beau, who was on his annual trip from TX, to go.  When that happened, Coco wanted in.  Both boys realized  there were only three passes.  Before they could think, I told them to take all three passes and have fun.  I would rather see the three of them running around together, than go myself.  They had a great time.  Coco had been having a hard day to that point.  It was the lift we all needed.  The healing power of music.
     Of course Coco couldn't wait to tell me how much glaucoma medicine was wafting around... he just thinks it's funny.  Better to talk about these things, than avoid an uncomfortable topic.  Make it comfortable.  You want your kids to talk to you.