Gates's First Outing in Fort Myers.

Gates rode calmly in his car seat today. We won't go into why restraints upset him so much but we will praise our wonderful Savior that Gates rode calmly in his car seat! Paul and I decided on a brief outing just to show him that every trip doesn't involve something stressful. We buckled Bridger in first and Gates watched with interest as Bridger kept chatting and then reached for his sippy cup like the seat was no big deal. Then we buckled in Gates, closed the door and moved quickly into the front seat to start up the van. We figured if he was too upset we would just drive around the block and come back but he was fine.

We drove to Lakes Park where Gates played on a slide, soundly rejected the swing and laughed at Bridger as he danced around in the cool misting station (as the water park was too crowded for either of them to have a go at it.). We watched the water birds from a shady picnic bench and Gates munched on some potato chips.

We didn't stay long as it was a really hot day but we took Gates to Bridger's all time favorite post park pit stop, "Sun Harvest"! Bridger loves to enjoy a paper cone filled with strawberry orange juice at the sample station and then go to the fridge and pick up a pint of it for home. Gates puckered up at the strawberry orange juice as if it were key lime juice and then he shuddered. Then he leaned in for more and more he puckered and shuddered every time but he downed the whole cup. He seems to be facinated with the fact that so many things are iced cold here in Florida! Anyway, we had the fantastic timing of getting there while the gallon jugs of juice were being filled along the conveyor behind the glass wall. Bridger says, "Hey, just like Unwrapped." Afterward he and Bridger shared a cup of the orange/vanilla twist ice cream. SO cute watching them with their two little spoons sliding it back and forth across the table laughing. Bridger said, "I should have my hockey stick!" (he broke it on something one time and Brian wrapped it up for him with black tape just like a real one. We married into the Red Wings recently).