It’s funny how the summertime always seems so busy. When the weather gets warm and the sun is shining, there’s that opportunity to get out and enjoy the world around us. Somehow, however, it seems to get busier. There are more things to do, more events to cover, more things to keep us later and later at the office. I guess that’s why they invented Daylight Savings Time.

Even with the few moments in between, there are the wonderful stolen summer moments where families can enjoy the simpler things, primarily each other’s company. Here are a few stolen moments that will hold fond memories when my children are grown, and my wife and I are left with summer evenings on the porch remembering when.

The Princess’ Playground

My two-year-old Amelia has a frequent and persuasive suggestion for how we can spend most family time: “Let’s go to the playground.” Her favorite place during the summer is the city park, a magical kingdom she rules with her enthusiasm and zest.

The playground is the site of our most recent adventures, whether climbing the muddy mud wall up to the giant slides that lead out of the mountains and into safety, as she explains, or swinging faster and faster on the bucket swing while her brother floats in outer space in the infant swing next to her.

It used to be, my wife and I had to play on the equipment with her, climbing ladders and squeezing through child-sized tunnels to hold Amelia while we slid down he slide. Now, she does it her self. She scales the muddy mud wall, goes down the slide, climbs the stairs, walks across the suspension bridge and clamors up and down the playground with little to no assistance. It was a proud day, but a sad one as well.

When she gets tired of the playground, we waddle down to see the ducks, and, if the attendant is there and the option available, we take a paddle boat out into the muddy lake. The last time we went, my wife and I pedaled, Amelia in the center and Finn on my wife’s lap. Across the muddy lake we floated, slinking into the shade of the trees to explore the shores of Africa (Amelia swears she saw a hippo). For a while we all just floated in silence, smiles on our faces, enjoying the breeze and the company.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

Walks are a great way to pass the day and they don’t cost a cent. We recently traded our old stroller for a double one so both kids can sit side-by-side as we walk through the city, even if the sidewalks are cracked and bumpy.

So many different things can be discovered, like the cats that wander by that Amelia must meet. There are different flowers to pick, instruments that must be visited at Melody Mart via the shop windows and the courthouse lawn and its gazebo perfect for dancing.

Finn rides in amazement and watches the cars go by and the people. He absorbs the world with wide eyes, like every sight causes a new discovery, another piece of the gargantuan puzzle solved.

Whether we pick different leaves of flowers to touch and play with or tasting a cherry slushee (Amelia’s new favorite), our walks offer the opportunity to discover the unknown, the possibility life throws at us everyday.

Our new favorite stop is the Fire Station. Often the friendly firefighters are outside with Dottie, the fire dog, and Amelia can’t resist the gleaming red fire trucks. Capt. Brian Wenning and Chief Scott Chasteen have been kind enough each time to allow Amelia to hop inside Engine 8, ring the bell and steer the huge wheel.