This. Park. Rocks.

Confession time.  My friend Harmony told me about this park a year or so ago.  She described this as something akin to a children's nirvana in the middle of Lakeland.  If you know Lakeland, FL, you know that's saying a lot - Lakeland isn't exactly a destination hotspot for, well, anyone.  So I filed it away and didn't give it a second thought until this morning when we were trying to think of something to do before it got so beastly hot.  I remembered this park and we hit the road.
Turms out, Harmony was sooooo right.  This park is the best park in the world.  I took tons of pictures, so be warned - and this is only a small portion of them. 
The park is called Common Ground

because it's a handicapped accessible parks with lots of little trails and different play areas so that kids of all kinds of abilities and ages will be able to have fun.  They even put this chart up at the entrance so you'll know if your child can do something or not.

A general theme of the park is butterflies, and there are lots of statues of them all around the park.

 

 

I even found a real one lounging on a rock.  Considering this picture was taken from about 20 feet away, I thought it a pretty good shot.

 

Just check out all the stuff you can do.

 

Needless to say, the boys jumped right in, climbing rope ladders

and venturing through tunnels with Daddy close behind.

"Anything you can do, I can do better just as good but it takes me a little longer."

When did  Micah become old enough to be able to climb this? 

Because I swear it was just yesterday that this was the extent of his adventures at the park.

The boys found this super cool circle swing that they could ride together.

Gettin' ready to slide.

Daddy checked out part of the playground too and waved to his boys.

Micah could see me through that tube and asked me to take a picture of him looking at me.  He thought it was pretty funny.

Daddy and Liam tackle the slide together.

Snack break.  Water, blueberries, and goldfish.  You can tell how hot it was from Liam's face.  Poor little guy.  I guess he inherited the Williams family red-face-when-exert-yourself gene.  Don't worry, son.  It's only mildly embarrassing.

Do you think he's having fun???

And do you think he's having fun???

What about this guy in the spinny thing?

 

Then Micah took his turn.

This is what happens when you get out of the spinny thing.  Walking becomes quite a challenge!

Super cool seesaw/balance beam thing.

Check out Liam's face.  I think he's saying, "Yeah, I can take this slide."  And he did. 

Both boys actually took the whole park.  They were so bummed to leave, but it was getting really hot by 10:30.  We promised to return soon.  Oh and Mum-Mum and Pop-Pop?  This park is probably about ten minutes from where you're staying when you visit, so get ready for some fun!!