Mini Golf with 2 Four Year Olds

When my friend suggested we take our 4 year old boys miniature golfing, I had this picture of swinging clubs, fat lips, and ice.  Oh, and of my friend and I retrieving balls from behind fences and at the bottom of water features.  What can I say?  I'm an optimist.

We had originally planned to meet at 12:30, but I had to change the time, due to Dylan's swim lesson.  Thank goodness we went at 10:30 because even at that time, the boys had to sit down to rest every few holes, in the ridiculous scorching heat!

My favorite part of the morning was watching the two different styles.  Dylan's buddy's style was to hold the club in one hand, and swing it neatly sideways.  Dylan's style was to hold it with both hands and whack it like he was driving golf balls, instead of just miniature golfing.  FORE!  We didn't have to retrieve any stray balls, and there was no ice involved, but we did have to caution them several times to STAY BACK!

We had lunch and ice cream after golfing, and I have to say that listening to two four year old boys having a conversation is pretty hysterical.  You have to pretend you're not listening and try hard not to laugh, or you'll ruin everything, mind you.  Another favorite part of the morning was when Dylan tried to look in his friend's potato chip bag, to see how much he had left.  His friend snatched the bag away from him, saying "Dylan!  You don't do that!  You don't look in someone's potato chip bag!"  Must be a part of the preschool BRO CODE that I'm unaware of?!  You just don't do it, man.

Every time we leave each other, Dylan's friend cries, and this time was no exception.  I loved when Dylan patted his shoulder, saying, "I know you love me, and you don't want to leave me, but it's okay.  We'll see each other again soon, okay?"  And, we will.

First Golf

On Saturday, we went to a birthday party for my friend's son, who turned 7. Dylan was the youngest kid there. It was held at a glow in the dark mini-golf place. I wasn't sure if I should take him, because I knew the place would be pitch black, and he has never been golfing before, and I was sure he would terrorize the other golfers, stealing their balls, and running off to place them in random holes.

It went better than I expected. I keep telling Jim, when dealing with children, you have to lower your expectations, then you are happily surprised if things go marginally well. The place was playing some great 80's dance music, and there was no music class this week, so basically Dylan NEEDED to get his groove on. A lot. We had a hard time getting him to come into the room with the birthday festivities.

We let him do his own thing on the golf course - as long as he wasn't bothering anyone else. He hit the ball a few times, but mainly just wanted to climb the neon green walls, and throw the ball up the scary clown ramp.


(He's dancing in this one).