Winter Festival

Pre-eye trauma, we had a fabulous weekend with family. NYC Parks Department threw a Winter Jam Festival. Previously held in Central Park, we were imagining wide open spaces surrounding the snowboarding and sledding, despite its new location on the East River. So after a yummy brunch with Seth and Alicia, we excitedly headed to our destination.

Everyone checks out a sculpture garden on the way, Lower East Side style:

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Upon arrival, we realized the location was much smaller this year and the crowd was overwhelming - I thought E would pass out :) Surprisingly enough, P seemed unfazed! He was too busy being mesmerized by the snowboarders hurling themselves at mach speeds...

E, not sure we should venture into the Jam after all...


After watching a few daredevils dive downhill, we headed through the throngs and watched some trampoline stunts.



But P had no interest "watching" anything. He informed us he wanted to "DO" something. No problem, P, whachya wanna do? He wanted to snowboard down the hill :) D'oh.



So we walked to the base of the snowboard station and found out P was a little too small :) Undeterred for action, he said he wanted to go to the rock climbing section. There too, we were informed he was to small... He was disappointed there were no adventures for "lil guys" and E and Seth needed to move into their new office - so I suggested we go Monster Hunting at the new building and P was off in a flash.... But having seen a little lost girl crying in the crowds (we helped her find her Papa) he was Not Losing Seth or Alicia.

P, with his death grip on his Very Sweet Aunt and Uncle:


As the brothers packed their boxes we needed to busy P ... First he explored with Alicia for a bit and then he and I set off for another "adventure, Mama!" We followed a stairway down to another level and around a few turns until we found exactly what we needed.... a mini golf course. I kid you not. Someone with a lovely sense of humor had added some astroturf and three holes below a huge window overlooking the city.




P screeched "jackpot!" and we settled in to play. After a few rounds he was still too psyched about his find and decided he just Must show Aunt Alicia. Fetching her back to the seemingly deserted floor, P chuckled happily and finished his supreme surprise with a "Ta-Da!!!"

The course was a little worse for wear, so Alicia and P set to setting the place up right. They bravely stuck their arms into the dark holes to fetch balls and such:



And then P settled in to play a few rounds for his captive audience (one of Alicia's friends had joined us too). He was as happy as a clam. And apparently had a sticky hand... And we wonder why we're sick so often :)