Parks and Pumpkins

About a month ago I was reading in my readers digest about a woman who put together a community project to build an "all access park" in her hometown. Jonny and I have always wished we lived near a wheelchair friendly park and have talked about how we could get one built here. Well the article inspired us to do a little research on the topic. Jonny has called many people and started the long process to see how to get one here in our town.
We found out that 2 hours away such a project had just been completed so we took a day to visit this brand new park with Brooklyn, her cousins, and of course to test it's claim to be "wheelchair friendly." (notice there is no rocks or bark, only soft ground....I love it!)


There are very few places that Brooklyn can take her wheelchair besides maybe the mall or church, so she was thrilled to cruise around this park. She loved keeping up with her cousins and shrieked with happiness the entire time. Anytime we helped her with her wheelchair we were screamed at that "she could do it herself!" When really she was flying down the ramps at a very unsafe speed!

"Look I can do it myself!"

I am not proud to say that the last part of the summer I avoided taking Brooklyn to the park at all. I was too hot and it was getting more and more difficult to carry her up and down everything the more pregnant I got. It was so fun to see Brooklyn be so independent at this park that I was able to put my swollen feet up and watch her take off!

Even the swings are made extra big so it was easy to get her in and out with her braces on. I don't know how many times I have struggled getting her out that I have almost had to go find help!

Before you continue reading..... this is my disclaimer:

This was not my idea

I resisted the whole time

If you knew my mom, you would know how this all happened........

Which of these things is not like the others? One of these things just doesn't belong....(you know the tune)

I guess my mom knew this was the only way to get me to post a pregnant picture of myself! My mom came up with the bright idea and seriously harassed me for at least a week to paint my belly and take pictures of it. Someday I may enjoy them a little more, but it's sad when the size of my face matches my belly!

At least Jonny and Brooklyn seem to be enjoying themselves!

You have to admit that my mother, the artist, did a pretty good job making it look so real