Belly, we're not in Normal anymore

Belly and I took a short road trip yesterday out to a state park a colleague had told me about. It was about a 25-minute drive, total, but since most things I need in this town are no more than 10 minutes away, it felt like a long drive. For the first 15 or so minutes of our drive out in the middle of corn fields, Annabelle was so excited. She'd pace back and forth in the back seat, stick her head out the window in anticipation of the fun fun place we were surely going. After about 15 minutes, though, she gave up and curled up on the back seat for the long haul. Me: Belly, don't give up! We're almost there. She stands back up again, sticking her head out the window in anticipation of the fun fun place we're surely going.

The park was nice. We walked on a path that was probably about a mile and a half long in the woods. I'm not really sure where these woods came from, out in the middle of the cornfields, but for a good hour or so it was like we were back east. There were small hills, winding paths, and surprise streams for Belly to splash in. She even got to run off leash for a little bit, and she was such a good girl, staying close by, checking in to see where I was. Perhaps 4 is the age where it all gets easier....