While the east coast and midwest are continually pummeled with the longest.winter.ever, we here in New Mexico are experiencing an early spring. The kids have spent the past three days outside -- practically every waking minute -- eating, blowing bubbles, cycling, scooter-ing, watering plants, 'bathing' (in mud and sprinkler water) and even going to the potty out there (eeeewwww, I know, but this blog is for posterity and yes, it's true, Reni did a deuce outside yesterday. It was kind of like picking up after a puppy. On a related note, I am very glad I don't have a real puppy to pick up after).
They wake up and beg to go outside, and they cry when it's time to come in for dinner. The only thing that mystifies me is that being outdoors doesn't seem to wear them out like it should. My children have seemingly limitless energy, like Energizer bunnies that never need to have their batteries changed. This is both wonderful and exhausting.
And then there was this morning's event, which has me even more vigilant than I usually am. We have a front gate that has three - count 'em, three -- locks with varying mechanisms. One you have to pull to get open, one is very tough to slide (and I've seen adults struggle with it), and the other has to be pulled out first and then slid to the side. Two of these are significantly out of Anika's reach - or so I thought. When I went to check on them at 7 a.m. this morning, the gate was wide open, and they were three houses down, running down the sidewalk like they were chasing the Iditarod.
When asked how she could have possibly opened the gate -- which I had checked three times that morning to ensure it was locked properly -- she answered, "I used a magic stick!" She wouldn't show me the stick and I couldn't find one. I am completely mystified. And frightened by this kids' engineering prowess. If any of you have ideas for kids' engineering toys that aren't things like our front gate, please send them my way. This kid is in need of things to keep her interested.
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