Big Barbecue

So after we got home from dropping Granita off, I managed to get Rowan back to sleep but Ellis was wired. I plugged him into the TV. Dora was on! It's been a while since we've been up that early so he can watch it.
I left him plugged in while I figured out what we could do today. I went to the Ourbrisbane site (run by the government I believe - Vancouver needs a site like it!) and the top event of the day was the Big Bbq. Apparently the entire week has been Queensland week - who knew? First I heard of it. Anyway, I debated if I were insane or not to drag both kids to a busy venue by myself. I figured I could strap them into the stroller and run if things got 0ut of hand.

I parked in the parent parking of Toowong Village and we caught the train down (a definite no no - I was paranoid someone would sneakily follow me from the car to the train so that when we got back, our car would be towed - then I got over my paranoia. Too many people - no way that they can keep tabs of where you disappear to into the mall.

Ellis watched the other people in the train station buy chips from the vending machine - "I want some of those."

This continued until the train came - fortunately, we timed it ok - only had to wait 7 minutes. I managed to manhandle the stroller on and it wasn't too crowded.

Got off at Roma Station - there were helpers out for the big BBQ and a nice woman directed me to the park. Roma Station is a newly redone old train station - they weren't thinking. I had to take an elevator up to the concourse, exit the station, take another elevator up to street level and then take yet another elevator up to the second street level (park is sort of in a crater). The elevators were small - held about 3 strollers. There were a ton of strollers out for the day - so had to wait in line for the very slow elevators. Annoying.

When I saw the park and the crowds I got a little worried. I headed straight for the child registration table and picked up wristbands for the kids (with my name and number in case they got lost). Right across the way was the lost kid tent - I saw a couple of forlorn looking kids.

I next directed us to the grass common where an extremely loud Mr. Men show was taking place. Ellis was transfixed - for about 10 minutes. I think he may not like Mr. Men as much anymore as they had really irritating voices - didn't help that they were at eardrum bursting level. We wandered some more - the Roma Street Parklands are very nice - found the circus kids tent. Ellis practiced a bit - and I ran into a mom I know - she is moving back to Canada in August. Why is everyone moving back now? Darn them.

She directed me to the free sausage sizzle tent when Ellis started moaning that he was hungreeeee. I didn't really feel like waiting in line, but you know me and free. Off we went. The lineup was super organized and went really quickly and soon we had our sausages wrapped in a piece of bread. I felt a little funny asking for three - but then, sausages are Ellis's and Rowan's favourite.

I wheeled them to a shady spot and Rowan mowed his sausage down - gone. Should have gotten 4 (or 5). I checked on Ellis (who was in the back) and he had passed out mid bite. I felt we should stay a bit longer, so I tried to interest Rowan in the petting zoo mayhem - I parked Ellis in the shade and took Rowan into the enclosure. Nope - didn't like the petting zoo. Poor animals. Stuck in a 10 by 10 enclosure all day with screaming children pulling and yanking their fur. Rowan's face expressed my thoughts - we got out as fast as we could. I decided to do a quick tour of the park before heading home - I found some cool instruments that kids were allowed to play so I parked Ellis again and tried to get Rowan to pound on some drums. He sort of liked it.

I put him back the stroller and headed home. Got to the train station and discovered I had just missed the train (darn stupid elevators). Had to wait 30 minutes for the next one. Darn - forgot my book. I need to learn how to use my iphone better.

Managed to get back to Toowong Village and do a little shopping - the kids slept on. Went back to the car (it was still there - hooray) and debated = "do I wake them up?" As I was debating Rowan opened his eyes. Yup.

Somehow made it to dinnertime - Ellis was very thoughtful during dinner.

"Do people turn grey when they die?"

"uh - sort of"

I wondered what made him think of this.
"statues aren't dead people you know."

"oh." pause. "where do dead people go?"

"well - some get buried and some get burnt."

His little face looked perturbed. I tried to back peddle.

When will I learn to monitor the things coming out of my mouth. I forget he's just three.

Managed to get him to bed by 7:30 - just in time for Border Security. Hoped Granita had an ok time going through with her Crocodile jerky.