bday67 girls' trip: back to bonnet springs

 

As I already mentioned, we all enjoyed Bonnet Springs Park so much yesterday that we had to come back to Lakeland one more time.

With rain in the forecast, we drove rather than walked.

 

Our first stop was the Nature Playground.

See where the squiggles are on the map, over to the left side?

My first niece parked there and made a beeline for that round swing, claiming it as hers and lying down to face the sky - bliss!

I originally had the swing that Miyah is in, but gladly let her have it.

That gave me free rein to snap that top photo!

Isn't it a perfect shot of 'locals' out on vacation?

(smile!)

That peace on the swings didn't last long before the squiggles began!

Let's all go over to Mable the Owl!

It had rock climbing on its wings, a slide, and other fitness bits.

Let's all go over to the open-air fitness center with the bikes!

None of that was for little girls.

Let's all go over to Los Trombos!

Those were very interesting, like enclosed merry-go-rounds with seats.

Let's all go over to the Peace Pagoda!

For sure! 

That's because the rain finally came, the rain that had threatened for three days, but that we had mostly managed to elude.

That actually cooled things down a little, there under the trees.

(Thanks, Christina, for that photo of me and the girls!)

After the rain moved off to other parts of the park, we made our way back to the car.

How about some inside entertainment?

The Greenhouse and Zoe's Butterfly Garden were both nearby, and both had parking right there.

So, over there we went, and while Christina was taking care of business with her mom and the phone company, the rain returned in force.

 

Fine, fine, fine!

Back to the Florida Children's Museum (map's upper center) we went!

Lots of other folks had that same idea, which made it a very good one indeed.

Miyah and Chloe spent the whole time up on the second floor, playing as make-believe grown-ups doing real grown-up jobs and chores.

Most of the other children in the building were right there with them, doing that same thing.

I admit, I got a bit overwhelmed by all the noise, so I wandered downstairs.

Eventually, that was even too loud, so I went out to the patio, as the rain had stopped again.

My back had been giving me trouble, so I took a little walk, enjoying the clean air, the bright green of the damp grass, the birdsong coming from the trees... ah, yes!

I was called back a bit later.

It was just past 3 PM and Christina had our picnic lunch ready and waiting for me.

Club sandwiches for me and her, PBJ for the girls, and chips for all!

As always, a welcome time to be together, dining al fresco!

Afterward, the girls went back to their playworld on the second floor and remained there until the closing-time parade led them right back out the front door.

Very nice!!!

Now we're back at Cypress Pointe.

Rather, I'm here at the condo.

The three of them are back at the Volcano Pool, naturally.

We'll have a movie later, "Paddington In Peru", over in the resort theatre room.

I'm looking forward to seeing that again!

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the quiet while it lasts.

(smile!)