Lollipops

Audrey, Eli and I went along to 'Lollipops' this morning, to meet our friend Jo and her son Max.

There's three or four of these indoor play areas across Canberra and as today was a rainy and blustery day it seemed a good place to be.

When we arrived just after 10am the place was packed with kids. Audrey and Eli were a bit overawed at first, especially as there were a lot of bigger children running around pretty much unsupervised. There are quite a few climbing areas, slides and the pièce de résistance a 'tea cup ride'.

Audrey took a little while to get settled, but Eli is a natural climber and was climbing up equipment which to be honest was far too big for him (he literally can climb before he can walk!)

The tea cup ride took Audrey's eye instantly. We haven't taken her to any fairgrounds so the ride must have seemed incredible to her 2.5 year old eyes. The centre only 'ran' the ride every 30 minutes or so, at which point it was mobbed by all of the sticky fingered kids in the place who descended on it with animated enthusiasm. Audrey wanted to go on the ride, but I don't think she appreciated that she'd have to share it with other children. She initially sat in it, then wanted out when the cup filled up with other kids.

After we watched it spin around once she was clearly hooked so the 2nd time she gleefully went in unaccompanied. Here's a clip (taken on my phone). I would have sat in the cup with her if the other lady hadn't barged me out of the way first! It's a dog eat dog world in kids indoor play areas!