The Butterfly

On Mother's Day we went to ElmoPark. It was a cool day here, but sunny and a great day to be outside. The park wasn't very crowded at all - probably not the top spot to bring moms for Mother's Day. :) But Bree and I have been having a LOT of fun at the park together, so I figured it would fit all the requirements that I had for Mother's Day: 1). we'd be doing something together; 2). it would be fun; and 3). I wouldn't have to cook or clean up afterward.

The last time we were at the park, Bree wanted to get her face painted. Given all of the things we still had to do on that particular day, I told her that we'd have it done the next time. So, we went to the face painting booth and deliberated about getting the tiger, the "mardi gras" or the butterfly. Bree eventually decided on the butterfly.

Bree was very interested in the process of the face painting at first. Then her attention started to wander. Then the painter had to reminder her "criss cross applesauce!" so that her legs were tucked up underneath her. When I was younger we called this "sitting Indian style" but for obvious reasons that phrase has been discontinued for something more generic: "criss cross applesauce." Bree is fascinated by this, and will ask me, "Mommy, is this 'criss cross apples 'n sauce?" Then I have to rearrange her legs until it's the correct position.

When the lady was done painting and handed Bree the mirror, Bree just looked at herself and it was almost like she couldn't comprehend that she had paint on her face. She seemed pretty darn underwhelmed with the whole thing, but was very happy to have the painting (and sitting) parts done with.

We stayed a record-breaking SIX hours at the park on Mother's Day. We still had to do some grocery shopping afterward, and everyone complimented Bree on how pretty her face painting was. Bree would just smile and agree, "yeah!"

The little girl in the picture above was getting her face painted right before it was Bree's turn. We ran into them again at the boat ride. Bree was very interested in being her friend. Her name is Wendy. :)

It was a great day, a lot of fun. I'm not sure if we'll do the face painting again. It was quite the fight at the end of the day to get Bree to agree to wash it off. EPIC BATTLE OF WILLS. But as it was Mother's Day, I did get my way. Eventually.