A Lakeside Spectacle

Tonight, we went on a family walk at our favorite nearby park. It is so therapeutic to get among nature and leave facebook, emails, dinner dishes, and dirty laundry behind for a bit! I couldn't resist taking pictures, although my husband really wanted me to put the camera down and just walk. But I have started seeing all the perfect little pictures everywhere since I got my new lens. I can't help it!
The walk started out okay, and I was feeling the peace of nature around me...for a minute. But the therapy tonight was not as peaceful as it started out to be!

My two older sons chose to take their bikes and rode ahead of us. At some point, my middle son began his typical whining which turned into a downright meanness towards us completely out of the blue. He has been having these emotional explosions lately, and I don't know if it's lack of sleep (highly doubt that), a growth spurt, or just a typical phase for a five year old. But tonight, it was almost comical. He lagged behind us (my husband took his bike away for his behavior), crying and complaining.

We passed people along the way who were trying to get away from our overly friendly dog and keep from staring at our miserable son at the same time. At one point, my husband made an attempt to distract our distraught son and introduced Mr. Grumpy to a young family sitting on a bench. It worked...for a second. But as we left, my three year old did some weird karate hand motions and made an inhuman sound from the back of his throat towards the already confused people. We were definitely quite a spectacle! I am sure many of the witnesses we passed along the path were parents themselves and probably felt much relief that at least their kids were "normal" compared to our crazy caravan!