As Spring time quickly creeps up on us, I got to thinking about some of the fun things that we could get ready to do this year. Last year, our theme for family activities was to check out the parks that each neighboring municipality claims as their crown jewel. This is a story about another one of those trips to the park. Except it wasn't like one of those trips to the park. It was much more like an epic adventure where everyone was able to find something enjoyable to pass the time while the little ones burn through their fuel reserves. At least that was what I was promised.
It was a
crisp Spring afternoon and the air was fresh; we parked our car at the Northeast
end of Bear Creek Park so that we can take a stroll through the nature trail
while observing the surrounding beautiful landscape. We walked along the Garden
Pathway and past the Gazebo, a popular spot on the weekend for wedding photos
before the greenery ended and the fun and excitement begins.
This
expanse area also features the Mini Train and Mini Golf, Water Park and outdoor
pool, Off-leash dog park, Outdoor gym with a running track and soccer field. What
we came for was the awesome playground, where hundreds of kids would gather in
the summers for the greatest time of their lives!
As a guy
who still feels like a kid, I was excited about all the other attractions
around and couldn't wait to ditch the kid with his peers so that I could run
around and explore. As I have learned through parenthood, I was not going to be
doing anything that I want and this was confirmed when D came up to me and said
in his sweetest voice "Do you want to play with me?" (If anyone knows
another answer to this question other than "yes," please let me know!)
I thought about it for about 5 seconds before I gave up and spent the next 2
hours climbing, sliding, running, pushing, spinning, and laughing with my
little buddy. At some point, I lost my ability to stand and grinded to a halt
half way up a jungle gym but D made like a Lemur and was hopping from one place
to another and was seemingly gaining more energy! Needing help, I looked around
for Saya and found her climbing on a wall at the other end of the park (Sorry
no pictures, she will kill me and I happen to like living). Seeing that Saya
was enjoying the park, I suggest to D that we do something with less running.
He suggested riding on the spinning cone climber so that he doesn't have to
run. I learned at that moment that when I talk to a 4 year old, I need to
expand on all the details of my master plan; otherwise, my punishment is to
spend the next 30 minutes making sure the cone climber doesn't stop spinning.
Sensing
that I was about to die and D was falling asleep from spinning for 30 minutes,
Saya suggested we get going and grab some dinner. Hours of fun was had and we
definitely had a memorable time. Bear Creek Park, thank you for bringing joy to
so many people. You are a valuable part of the Surrey community and we will
definitely come back soon. Maybe we will see you this Easter at the Easter EggHunt.
