In the great outdoors

We spent the entire day outside yesterday. And although that sounds lovely, easy, fun...it was actually hard.

 I really didn't think it would be. I had the girls packed up into the double stroller, snacks in the diaper bag, blanket to lay on, nursing cover, everything we needed to go to the playground and just hang out. But we couldn't just hang out.

Wren is at an awkward playground age- she is big enough to get up on things and play by herself, but too little to be left alone up on those big play structures with the bigger kids running around her. So unless Ellie is in the carrier on my front, I can't follow Wren around the playground with the stroller while Ellie sleeps. 

Dilemma. 

I also can't just let Ellie lay on a blanket and kick and try to watch Wren at the same time. If Ellie doesn't sleep in the stroller...I have to hold her in my arms...(I kicked myself for not bringing the Ergo with me today)...so what did I do?

I kind of tried to do both. I tried pushing Wren on the swings with the stroller close by, running over to it every several pushes to check on Ellie who was looking around and minutes away from agitation. Then there were tons of kids in the playground, so I suggested to Wren that we go to the other playground another block over because it might be quieter.

It was totally dead in fact, except for the teenage boys playing in the field yelling f-bombs in jest at each other. Super. 

And there was no bench in the shade. And the only shade was under one lonely tree. And I had to feed Ellie...again. 

Sigh. This should be easier!

As a result, we went home to our own backyard. So. much. easier. To an extent. It means I run in and out of the house a million times for things and it would also be easier with a fence there so I don't have to fret that a homeless person rooting through the trash might come into the backyard. 

But hey. 

The other day Wren was at the grandparents so I took Ellie on an errand to the grocery store. I was unpacking the stroller from the trunk (instead of using a cart), and about to plunk Ellie's carseat into it, when a sweet little grannie stopped and said, "Oh I don't know how you young girls do it these days! I used to just stay home!"

That made me laugh because in reality? We must just make it look easy, that's all.