The Jay's Days: Picnic with Pooh in the 100 Acre Woods

I wish I could say that I had it all been pre-planned the way an organized mother would aspire to do... but it wasn't. It actually came about as a boo boo remedy. Griffin was ailing as he'd dropped a tractor implement on his head. (I was out of the room changing a diaper (not mine) when it occurred, so I have to trust the eye witness accounts that it was a legitimate self-indused accident.) Regardless of the blame, we were holding an ice pack on his eye and in an attempt to distract him, Carter kindly ran upstairs to retrieve Griffin's blankie for him. That was received so well, accompanied with gushes of praise from me, that in a flash he'd gone up again and brought him his favorite blue bear that he calls his "Bunny" (not sure why, but we humor him and go along with it.) So Carter says, "Here's your bunny." when he lovingly gives it to him. Next minute, he's back with the huge Tigger the Tiger from Griffin's room and he's bouncing it around the way Tigger's do. Then comes Eyeore, the downcast donkey. We often talk about the choice we have in life - "do you want to be a Tigger or an Eyeore?" - it's up to you. Well, as they're giggling and bouncing I had a brainstorm that we should do a picnic with Tigger and Eyeore and Pooh and any other friends and relations we could invite on such short notice. They were completely on board and before I knew it, the picnic blanket, picnic quilt and bags overstuffed with bear legs sticking out were loaded in the back of the car. (They seriously did this without my help!) I threw together a picnic lunch (literally!), required potty stops and we were off for a very late, but fun-filled lunch. We had a rumbly in our tumblies but we couldn't go just anywhere for our picnic, we had to seek out the 100 Acre Woods and find just the right spot for a picnic under the shade of a very big tree. So we went for a ramble down to Holliday Park. This time last summer we made the same trek and had a teddy bear picnic. (I remember because I was completely pregnant and waddled the whole way!) They wanted to picnic beneath the same tree that they remembered climbing last year. Easy enough. (or much easier this year, I should say!) Soon we were lugging bags, blankets and baskets under that same tree. Carter had even packed the Winnie the Pooh Candy Land board game, so after a little smackrel of something we played a round. Then Griffin and Kiefer were off to chase butterflies while Carter tackled the tree climbing. Fletcher dipped into a pot of honey while he ate everyone else's honey graham crackers while they weren't looking. Living up to his middle name, Graham! It was a great early birthday celebration for him and a memorable time for us all! What's even better is that they don't even know that there's a Winnie the Pooh movie or cartoon series - to them, it's all from storybooks and we just spent the day living it out.

Griffin wanting a little "smackerl of something"

Carter hugging on his bunny (Velveteen Rabbit) in his favorite tree

Fletcher caught a Huffalump!

Here are Pooh, Tigger, Eyeore and all the others who were available on such short notice!

Picnicing under the shade tree - enjoying a smackerl of something

Candy Land with Pooh Bear (and all the friends and relations)

Me & Fletcher taken by photographer Carter :)

Fletcher enjoying his and everyone else's Honey GRAHAM crackers

Carter!!

Carter & Kiefer playing Candy Land

The view from the tree... just kidding! :)

Tree climbing expedition

Now Fletcher's using everyone else's water bottles while they're not looking!

The big boyz found something in the tree

A butterfly with broken wings. We gave him a sip of apple juice and got a close up view before he said thank you and flew away. Fun for them to see him so close up!