Touch a Truck

It has taken me weeks to get around to writing about Edmond's Touch a Truck event which is a little ridiculous considering how much fun it was.  The problem, you see, is that blogs with lots of pictures are a little be onerous to pull together so I tend to put them off.  However, you all really should experience Touch a Truck so here's an attempt at capturing it for you.  First, "Touch a Truck" is literally just that- kids in a parking lot with a lot of trucks and vehicles that they are allowed to run freely over. (Brent adds that he thinks it should be called -- Touch a Truck and eat junk food (edited for family blog) --- Pepsi, Borden, LOVES stores and other local groups hand out various free treats throughout which I enjoyed, but apparently Brent not so much).

The Edmond MOMS group organizes it as a fundraiser for the OKC Food Bank 4 kids backpack program.  The fee is a minimal suggested donation of $2 per person.  The event takes place in a large parking lot at the University of Central Oklahoma each May.  We discovered this the day after it happened last year and were committed to going this year. (Here is where I really should have told my OK people more about the event in advance, apologies)  In any case, I was really I was committed to going.  So committed, in fact, that I hauled my slightly sick boy off to this event within an hour of  my belated arrival from DC via a delay yielding a night in Dallas and not enough sleep (seriously B and I took a nap together for more than two hours after we got home from this.)

We put Lady M in her Ergo and set off to enjoy the day.  It was cloudy and sprinkled at times, but for all the complications that could have ruined this adventure it was wonderful.  B climbed in, out, around and through everything he could get his hands on.  Oddly, I think his favorite may have been the postal truck.  We think this was possibly because he could easily get in and out on his own as it was low to the ground, but who knows. The bomb squad's robot was definitely another favorite as were the fire trucks.  I was a little surprised at how little construction equipment there was, but we did enjoy the plastic hard hats from the electric company and crawling on their cherry picker.  Mostly, we wandered all over taking all the time he wanted to climb in things, pull horns, talk to people, and happen on to the next coolest thing. 

From a parents perspective -- consider ear plugs.  There are ALOT of truck horns, sirens, etc being set off/pulled by excited kids.  You need to be able to hear your kids, but a little bit of sound proofing would be nice.  Also, think about a backpack or a large bag to toss things in as they are handed out.  B wanted everything, but no one had pockets or storage for the random things he glommed onto (think drinks, stickers, food).  Also, for the adults familiar with OK storm chasing I have a picture of Val Caster -- famed of the channel 9 news team and this satirical storm day drinking game (which of course I in no way recommend, but do find hysterical based on the way the storm chasing is called here).

Overall, it was a fabulous event for everyone.  Small people of a wide range of ages seemed to have a great time and I am so very glad we made it.  Anyone want to come with us next year?