Since the Spy Garden “About” page says we “explore the garden, yard and community” occasionally we leave our garden/yard and venture out into the cruel world.

Farewell paradise! See you in a few hours.

Fortunately, the greater St. Louis area is not too cruel and has many wonderful places for an outing. I generally prefer to explore places where there are no (or few) people as I prefer flora and fauna to crowds.

Ahhh tranquility

I’ve said to the Spy many times, the only “outing” that never disappoints is nature. It is pretty, quiet and peaceful. Even if you don’t see a single bird or weird shaped rock or colorful mushroom, a nature outing (even a walk in the park) never disappoints. The same cannot be said for trips to Chuckie Cheese, a children’s museum or a parade. These places can be enjoyable (except for Chuckie Cheese which I have never and will never go to) but sometimes places like these seem empty and disappointing, even though they are full of stuff. Perhaps this is also because a hike in the woods is (essentially) free and I am quite cheap. But, no matter the destination of the outing, walking around a new place in the sun (or cold for that matter) for an hour makes babies exhausted and sleep for three hours.

Behold: The outings’s greatest function

This is why you see so many parents lugging around baby gear and giant strollers and wagons and bags of snacks. The kids may take brief moments to enjoy the sights, but running toward sharp objects and smearing the snacks all over said gear is what really wears them out.

The Spy really likes classic cars so we enjoyed checking some out yesterday at a local “Founder’s Day Celebration”. We were close to home, did not bring piles of gear to lug around and it was a very nice time.

Checking out the cars

Look at this one

A “woody”!

More of the “woody”

A Ford

Horse Braid

Checking out a tank-truck

Out and about

Woo! Dumping this water on myself is pure joy!

Baby spy’s smile would be even bigger if that were grape juice or some other sticky and/or staining substance hahahaha. She liked seeing the horses but it is clear that the ice-cold water was the highlight. The spy enjoyed the cars and got his first look at some live hip-hop MTV-style dancing (a local children’s dance studio performing). This is his expression as he watched the dancers:

He got a confused and slightly panicked look on his face and looked at us and said, “Wait, is this really happening right now?” I laughed and said “Yes, yes it is….well…people like different things.”

I’m not saying there is not a time and place for Nicki Minaj or Ke$ha. In my car, in a bar, etc. But, the crunking and gyrating seems a bit incongruous with snow cones and classic cars. Thigh high patent leather boots at noon? On a 10 year old? I mean, there were older people around, people who probably had friends called “skip” and “buddy” when they were kids and said things like “shucks” and “gee willikers”. I totally get that dancing is an art form. In fact, I absolutely love to dance. And will freely dance to such music, just not in broad daylight when kids in strollers and great-grandparents are watching. I’m not questioning the choreographer’s choices or the form of expression: just observing the glaring dichotomy of classic cars and crunking because it is pretty freaking hilarious.