Free Play Time

Parenting experts, whoever they are, often speak of the need for unstructured, free play time. It inspired The Lego Movie, so it's good enough for me. This week was kind of the like the weeklong version of free play time.

Horsing around at the Arboretum, pretending to be groundhogs or some other buck-toothed rodent.

More free play time at the ultimate free play time place in Lexington, the Explorium. Levi met his slightly more portly doppelganger.

Eva suddenly realized just how much she has grown this summer.

Each day seemed to end the same way, with a full viewing of Big Hero 6 and bonus features. This led to several impromptu recitations of storylines from the movie ("I was allergic when you said 'ow'").

Speaking of personal healthcare companions, they went with us everywhere this week, including the funky little riverside area of Jeffersonville, Indiana. We will definitely return. In the meantime, do you best to plug the Big Red Chair and spread the word. It's the least you can do. It's also the most you can do.

Not that we can take credit for planning a trip to Jeffersonville. It happened on a return trip from Indianapolis, to perhaps the worlds' best childrens' museum. Being in Indy, it has a fair bit of racing included. Wave as you pass the finish line.

More satisfying to Eva was the painted glass ceiling. Laying on your back gives you a whole different perspective. So I'm told.

OK, so the week wasn't fully free play time. Tae kwon do doesn't work so well with a lack of structure, especially during testing. Here is the exact moment following Levi's splitting of the board as part of his test. This is, then, technically, the very first photo of him as a junior yellow belt.

Squeeze in some time for sushi, which could also be counted as chop stick practice time. Maybe the week wasn't as much free play time as I first thought.
 

We conclude on Saturday with true free play time with friends Jack, Harry and Amelia hanging around the house. And some experimentation with almond flour brownies (Eva is a convert).

I've spoken before about an arc this summer, and perhaps reaching a pinnacle once or twice before. But tonight, I can honestly say that we did it right and ended the heart of summer the right way - with the very best feeling at the end of the very best day. Ending the day late with some good friends, good wine, good food, outside in the cool Kentucky evening. It's special exactly because it is so unremarkable of a day. Summer can include highlights like the White House and Europe, but a simple day at home with my family reminds of how little it takes to be happy in life.