Letort Park - Carlisle, PA
For her birthday, Liv wanted to revisit the park she has heard so much about over the past 7 years or so. You see, when she was little - very little - our spirited young lady was sound asleep after the half hour drive to this magical childhood land. Not wanting to bother her, I pulled her carseat out of the car entirely and walked her to the nearest picnic table and leaned the seat back against the bench of the table.
As the story goes, Drew and Sam were off exploring the wooden maze of Letort when Liv began to stir. She didn't rest often and when she did, she was out - cold. So any stirring while in her sleep tended to mean the end of her nap was near. Before I could coax her awake and introduce her to the playground, her eyes snapped open like a roller shade, she saw the giant castle of a playland and threw her body florward with the trajectory of a canon.
She was on her feet and running toward the playground - from a dead sleep.
There were no words. I yelled after her, shocked and laughing, "Livvy, where are you going?!" She slowed down only to yell back to me, "Pay, Momma! Pay!" (Pay, of course being the one-year-old translation of 'play')
Anyway, this story has been told to Olivia over the years and each time she is reduced to giggles galore. When she asked us to have her birthday here this year, we couldn't say no. It was the perfect idea.
She invited three little friends, but only two could make it. Hot dogs, cake and presents - lots of running around and a beautiful place for pictures... it was a wonderful party - for a wonderful little girl.
Nyah, Liv, Abby and Drew - the keepers of Fort Letort
Drew asked me earlier in the week to return to a store we had visited. He had seen his sister oogling at this barbie and all her miniscule pieces and he wanted to get it for her birthday. I thought is was such a nice gesture and I was touched that he was paying such close attention to her little wishes.
Liv, Nyah and Abby
Couldn't ask for more beautiful subjects. When I look at these girls, just eight years old, I remember my own childhood and wish for them all the blessings that have been bestowed upon me. Growing up is tough, but together with her friends, a girl can get through anything.
