Play Day

One of the things we like about living in Ankeny (besides the proximity to Target and Starbucks) is all the awesome parks and activities for kids.  Jeremiah is taking part in one such activity this week-- Toddler Swim Class at Prairie Ridge Aquatic Center.  If you happened to read my status on Facebook today, then you know that this is not going exactly how I envisioned it.... meaning Jeremiah is not cooperating 100%.  He gets in the water willingly and likes to splash around, and even likes to blow bubbles.  But when it comes to trying to get him to try (with Mommy holding him!) a front float, back float, jump from the side of the pool, or slide-- GOOD LUCK.  But, if they say that the point of the class is to get toddlers comfortable in the water, well then I guess we'll call it a semi-success.

Anyway, I digress.  Back to the reasons that we like living in Ankeny!  There are like a billion parks-- we have been to quite a few, but probably have not even scratched the surface.  Often when we are driving around town I will spot a park that we have not been to yet!  A favorite park of Jeremiah's (and mine) is Hawkeye Park (and not just because we're Hawkeye fans!).  There are 2 separate playgrounds (well 3, if you count the one at the elementary school that is attached to the park), sand volleyball courts (perfect for playing with dump trucks!), and a nice pond with lots of ducks!  We decided on this beautiful evening to head over to Hawkeye Park to walk around the pond and feed the ducks and stumbled upon yet another reason to like Ankeny-- the All-City Play Day!

Part of the All-City Play Day included...... a "Touch a Truck" event!  Well, you can just imagine Jeremiah's excitement!  Unfortunately, because we were just planning on feeding the ducks, I had brought an old hamburger bun and not my camera. :(  BUT, I did get quite a few pics on my phone!  Not the best quality, but good nonetheless!  And rather than weeding through them to find just a couple good ones, I'll post them all for your enjoyment!

First up-- driving a police car!  We'll assume this will be Jeremiah's first and only time in a police car.

Notice the open-mouthed look of awe.

Next, drivin' a Gator.

Mommy and J in some sort of bull-dozer thing (you'll have to ask J for the technical name).

Pausing in a tractor to humor Daddy with "Cheese."

He's in heaven!

Driving a grader (see, I do know some things) by a real-live "worker guy" (and Daddy)!

I honestly can't remember what kind of truck this one was (they all started to blend together after awhile!).  A city dump truck maybe?  Anyway, J had fun honking the horn!

Seeing the huge fire truck ladder from blocks away was our first clue that something special was going on at the park!

It was really high.

 Not a super good picture, but this is a cement truck.  You can see J's little arm reaching up to pull the air horn!  (Holy cow, that thing is LOUD!)

Next, a tow-truck (he got to turn on the flashing lights!).

And finally, the fire truck.  How cute is he in that mini fireman's coat and hat?!?!?!?

He doesn't mess around-- he takes his job very seriously!

We walked around the other activities a bit, but obviously nothing was going to compare to "Touch a Truck" in Jeremiah's eyes.  He did enjoy running around in the grass....

.... and he came away with his very own free reflective slap-bracelet (which he is currently sleeping with) and Smartie's.

A pretty fun evening for the little guy!  We will obviously pay more attention and make sure we return for All City Play Day on purpose next year.  This weekend is Ankeny's "Summerfest," and no, Mom, it is nothing like Milwaukee's Summerfest.  But, there's a little carnival and a parade and other activities going on that we will have to check out!