Played their little hearts out

Since the house is being worked on every day from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. I am trying to get the kids out and about by 9:30 every morning. Most days this is no problem because we can go to TCF. But Tuesdays are the trickiest days. The library doesn't open until ten, and it's November so the weather is chilly.
So this morning we decided to try something new. Each Tuesday morning during the school year there is Tahoe Tiny Timbers gym time for kids birth to 5 years of age at the rec center. I was reluctant to go last winter when Sam was a newborn and because Ben was still pretty little. As it turns out, it's awesome! They have the bouncy house set up, along with a huge collapsible tunnel and playhouse structure. They have balls, horseshoes, push toys, riding toys, big foam blocks, and even a riding toy on a miniature roller coaster track. The boys loved it!
And we were so happy to see lots of familiar faces of moms with their kids ranging from under one year-old to four-years old. The hour and a half flew by and wiped me out. But as we were loading up in the car another mom rolled down her car window and said, "We're going to Incline Beach if you're up for it." Why not? Today's weather is unseasonably warm.
The kids and I arrived at the beach to a completely flat lake, and dazzling sun. Several families had the same idea as moms stood around chatting while watching their kiddos climb, run, slide, and bask in the warm November sun.
We'd been there just a few minutes when we heard a low flying plane. It turned out to be a seaplane that landed right in front of the beach and taxied/floated over to pick up a passenger on the shore and took off again. Believe me, this is a big deal to a two year-old boy. Within moments two National Guard helicopters also flew over low enough for us to see details on their underbellies.
Ben soon joined his buddy, Max, down by the water's edge to build sand castles. It took less than ten minutes for both of them to be bare footed with their jeans rolled above their knees. The water was cold but worth a little wading. We saw a fishing boat go by, as well as a rower, and a man on a long board with a pole.
Sam was happy in the back pack carrier watching big bro play until I finally convinced Ben that we should go check in on Daddy at the office and see how the construction for the day went. Within twenty paces of the car I felt Sam's weight shift as his head drooped in slumber. After a visit to Daddy we came home to saw dust and busy workers and waited patiently for the daily wrap up so we could get a rest.
Here's the funny thing. After all that playing, the boys aren't resting well. Over stimulated, maybe? Sam snoozed for maybe a half an hour total between the backpack, car seat, and a little bit at Daddy's office. Yet right now he's in his travel crib in the living room crying like mad. I went in to check on him three different times and he is refusing to rest - thus the travel crib. When he was in his regular crib his crying was keeping Ben from sleeping. And believe me, Ben NEEDS to sleep! We'll see how this all plays out. All I know is that right now, I am tired!