Gaga for...Lessons Learned

OK, so everyone knows I'm gaga about two things in life: Themes and Kids.  Put them together for a themed-kid event and I'm in heaven!  This last week I had two such instances that seriously, left my brain happy, my heart full,  and my soul smiley.  I even learned a thing or two!

1ST THEMED EVENT WITH KIDDOS: 

A lovely  woman-who I swear is on her way to sainthood-and her 3 littles, joined me for a lovely walk at Fontenelle Forest.  A super cool forest within the city that reminds you to connect with nature.  Check out the link for more details: http://www.fontenelleforest.org/ 

It just so happened that the forest had a large dinosaur exhibit that left the littles freaking out if they were real or not and when it was finally decided they weren't real, they named them.  Like Jeff and Jasmine.  

Two things happened on this trek through the woods that made me ponder. One, the trees are dying.  Because of the drought, the leaves are brittle and brown.  It was more like fall than the middle of summer.  It made me kinda sad so, I told the littles that the reason for the leaves falling was that the treetop faeries were dancing to hard which made me happy.  The biggest of the littles thought I was insane, *sigh.  The second thing that made me think was the sheer excitement that came across the bunch when we came upon a little man-made creek.  And what do you do when you come across a man-made creek bed?  You take of your shoes and dip your feet into the cool water, feel the slippery stones beneath you as you teeter across, and splash.  I found myself telling a little part of me to never lose the ability to get excited over the simple things and ALWAYS make time for a "good feet soak."

2ND THEMED EVENT WITH KIDDOS: 

I was invited to a barn yard tea party (no, it was not redneck) for one of last years students.  Her family is absolutely delightful and funny as all get out so, of course I went.   It was a small party and yet lively despite the 100 degree weather.  Little ones were armed with spray bottles and the hipster moms and aunts were more than happy to let them be.  There was a hay rack ride, a trip to a pirate ship, some gawking at very large smelly hogs, and tea cup shaped sandwiches. No joke.  The food was seriously cut out in these cute little tea cup shapes and the cake was Oreo flavored to "look like a cow" when you bit into it. 

I learned three very valuable lessons: 

1.It's OK to go over the top for your kids-just not in a barn whose air conditioner is broke.

2. I need to take lessons on how to be a cool hipster mom/aunt.

3.  Just because I'm an adult, it doesn't mean I should stop having fun.  Who cares if I looked like a sweaty kindergartner at the end of the day? Why not climb the pirate ship or go on the hay rack ride? Why not take off my shoes and do a rain dance in the middle of the forest? 

Why not?