Flying Tunnels

As some of you know, I have been looking for more and more things to entertain Hannah and Hunter with. They love to play outside, but we don't really have that much for them to "do". I have been to numerous garage sales and been scanning craigs list for a playhouse or swingset but haven't had any luck so far. The darn things are expensive, so I'm hoping to find a good deal soon--you know me! Anyway, we had a gift certificate to Toys R Us that we had not used, so I decided to make a trip last Friday to see if there was anything they would like. I came across this cool pop-up tent/tunnel thing, and decided that it would be a perfect alternative until we can find something more substantial. Needless to say, I was really excited to get them home for their nap so I could get it set up and ready.

By the time they got up, I had it all put together in the front yard, with the camera and camcorder ready to get their big reactions. When they stepped outside they were pretty puzzled, and reluctantly made their way to check it out. As I'm sitting on the porch steps happily snapping pictures, an old man is walking past and I wave at him momentarily distracted--at the same time, the WHOLE thing literally lifts up the air about five feet and starts flying away. I let out a scream and start charging after it-every time I would get close another big gust of wind would blow it farther away from me. It ended up on the other side of my neighbor's yard. By the time I got it I was cracking up laughing and wondering how many of our neighbors were watching me make a fool of myself, who really cares at this point?? By the way, thanks a lot to the perfectly healthy "old" man who was SPEEDWALKING past, for not helping us out! He gave us a look of dismay, and kept right on walking!!! By the time I had gotten it properly weighted down with phone books, Kevin arrived home, and any interest the kids had in the thing was quickly forgotten. Kevin helped me pack it up and bring it inside, where we had a little bit more fun with it without any strong wind gusts. Needless to say, it wasn't what I imagined it would be and was a little dissapointed.

After leaving part of the tunnel in our living room for the weekend, and having to squeeze to get around the huge thing, I decided to pack it all back up and return it (which I rarely do). The lady at Toys R Us asked if there was something wrong with it and I told her that they used it for a total of 10 minutes, and we honestly just didn't like it. So....long story short, we got a little picnic table instead. They seemed to be thrilled to have their own place to sit and babble to each other, and I couldn't be happier! Here are some pics of this past weekend: the first picture was taken just a few seconds before the thing flew away!!!