A Lesson Learned

As we've grown used to going out with first one boy and now two, Ian and I have tried to keep up with our adventuring spirit.  We always liked to try new things and were always going new places.  While we don't get out quite like we used to, we still like to try new things.  However, when we go out we have realized that we go with a different mentality.  Instead of trying to go and do absolutely everything we can, we go, have a good experience, perhaps not doing everything, and then head home while everyone is still in a fairly good mood and we've had a good experience.  Basically, we've learned not to push it.

Well, we thought we had learned that lesson well, but a few weeks ago, we needed a little reminder.  We headed out early to check out Carrboro Farmers Market which is in a little town south of Chapel Hill.  Ben got a little fussy riding in the baby carrier and Evan just ran us ragged getting into everything he could at each booth.  He would beg us to let him try one of the tomatoes on the table, and then when we were actually allowed to have one, he would spit it out and refuse.  He's definitely hitting his stride with the whole two year-old thing.

(The Carrboro Farmers Market)

(The tomatoes Evan refused)

(Evan takes some time to smell the flowers.)

Anyway, we did have a good time looking around at the Farmers Market, and we had a little time when we got done.  So, we decided to try to find an ice cream store that we had never been to.  All of the ice cream comes from a local farm, and the location is near the farm.  So, it was a little bit of a drive.  After about a half an hour of driving we realized that both Ian and I thought the other one had directions, we were lost.  To top it all off, I was in the backseat giving Ben a bottle.  He was screaming through it while Evan was screaming on the other side of me.  We almost gave up and went home, but by that point we were determined to find this place and enjoy some ice cream if it killed us!

After quite a bit more driving and some phone calls to the store to find directions we finally made it.  Evan had a milkshake, Ian had some banana pudding ice cream, and I had some cookie dough ice cream with fudge sauce.  We sat on the front porch in some very comfortable rocking chairs and did actually enjoy the ice cream and the view.  However, we're not quite sure if it was worth all of the angst to get there.

(The view from the front porch)

(Evan's photograph of the front porch)

(Our little family on our big adventure)

So, on the way home, with both boys sleeping in the back seat, we realized, we had not listened to our own advice. We did try that one more thing, we didn't quit while we were ahead at the Farmer's Market, and we did push it a bit too far!  Lesson learned.  Next time, we may not try to have quite such an adventure!