National Night Out

Last night, August 5, 2008 was 25th Annual National Night Out. For those of you who don't know what that is its a unique crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) it is designed to: "Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. " There were events all over the country and in our fair city so we walked to one a few blocks away. There was lots of free food, big bouncy things for the kids (I said kids not petite toddlers), a petting zoo and several civic organizations set up booths with information. It was pretty neat.

Lately Ally has been wanting to be carried to the park. We're hoping its just because she has been sick and will go back to her usual walker self. So we took turns carrying her to the park and when we got there she demanded to get down and ran to see the balloons!

Then she ran down the hill back to us. I just love how she runs with her mouth open!

This is a shot of the whole scene.

At the petting zoo area there were turtles and goats and chickens and rabbits and a snake. I think the only creature Ally touched on her own was the snake!

Here mama is "helping"Ally pet the goat. [Forcing is more like it]

Ally was much more comfortable on the other side of the pen looking in at the animals.

We ended the evening out at the playground and Ally climbed up the stairs all by herself! It was great to see. Then she would slide down the slide and run around the equipment and climb up the stairs and slide again. Its the first time she "got" the idea of climb up and slide down, and really figured out that at the bottom of the slide you have to walk around to the other side to get back up. I was really happy to be there and see it. She was so proud of herself and would clap when she landed and then run around to the other side. Above she is climbing up and below is her getting ready to slide and then her landing. I wish I had captured the joy on her face - but sometimes I'm not so quick with the camera!