Alex Day in Rye

I knew that I had to be at the Avalon Willow at 4:30 this afternoon. This put a bit of pressure on us. I wasn't sure how I would arrange it. So, I left that up to Alex and I'm sure glad I did. It may just take a few entries to talk about all we did today.
This morning, we had to get to Mommy & Me Ecology at the Rye Nature Center. In order to make sure we get to a 10 AM class on time, we have to take a 9:12 bus from our stop, but that gets us there a half hour early. We spent the time exploring around the nature center and playing on the playground.

In class, we met Hercules, the bearded dragon; a tortoise and a hissing cockroach. Alex knew all of their species' names. Then we spent time in the garden, releasing some butterflies and watering some plants.

Then we did a craft and Alex participated! (As long as it wasn't "too cute". I suggested there is nothing "cute" about a bumblebee.) He marched in the bug parade too! (While we visited the bee hives outside.)

As usual, we left at storytime, stopping to have a snack of yogurt and banana outdoors. But, also as usual, Alex didn't wish to leave just yet. It was only 11, so I figured we'd stay.

Melanie and Gabriel showed up late for class. They asked us to stay, so we did. Despite a two year age difference, Alex played well with Gabe. Then Gabe decided he wished to go on a walk and Melanie took him. Alex and I decided we'd go on our own walk as we left the Center's grounds. We walked down the long driveway, but then walked off the path to the second bridge exit. We even saw deer tracks on the way!

Once on Boston Post Road, we decided to stop at the new pizzeria, Planet Pizza. We had lunch there and continued on, after Alex got his walking sticks back, of course. (He'd left them outside, like a polite little hiker).

From there, we went to the library and visited their new temporary location upstairs. (Hurricane Irene flooded their usual basement location). Alex and I played with some puzzles and borrowed some new DVDs (and a new Geronimo Stilton book). Alex was also patient while I sat in the lobby and had some coffee. He played with a younger boy there, imitating the Franklin episode in which he tries to hold a "school day" for his younger sister Harriet. "What am I doing wrong?" Alex declared when the younger boy tapped on the table after he did. (Except, unlike Harriet, this boy got the beat right.)

Since it was colder that day and I'd forgotten to get Alex his jacket, I remembered that I'd wanted to get Alex some new long sleeve polos. So, after the library, we stopped in Lester's to check out what they had. When we left there, Alex was still anxious to go shopping, so we continued down Purchase Street with the expectation of going shopping. That was when our day took an unexpected - and really fortunate - turn.
It was just after 1 by now. I figured we'd just spend the whole day in Rye and get to the Avalon by 4:30.  It was now Alex Day!