Let's Go Fly a Kite!

With tuppence for paper and strings
You can have your own set of wings
With your feet on the ground
You're a bird in a flight
With your fist holding tight
To the string of your kite

Oh, oh, oh!
Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!

When you send it flying up there
All at once you're lighter than air
You can dance on the breeze
Over houses and trees
With your fist holding tight
To the string of your kite

Oh, oh, oh!
Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Let's go fly a kite!

(I can't help but sing while I read those words....and really I think of this song any time I see a kite--I guess I was brainwashed by Mary Poppins as a child.)

This is our very first kite! You can imagine our excitement when we finally got the chance to test it out in the open sky. We went to the shore of Lake Pontchartrain, where you can almost always catch a nice breeze, and let it soar. Carston was excited to learn how to control the string and how to let it in and out.

Carston was soon flying the kite by himself and doing a great job. The poor kid had to look straight into the sun when the cloud cover would shift away from the brilliance and glide toward the horizon. He faithfully squinted into the sun watching his kite drifting higher and higher.

Jackson took a turn with the kite and did well until the wind picked it up, took control and started grabbing it away from him.

The string was unraveling at an alarming rate when Dad saved the day and reeled the kite back in toward the ground. We learned to tie the string on tightly to keep it in check.

Peyton didn't care if she was in control of the kite as long as she got to hold the string. The wind was merciless during her turn and it was picking up her hair and skirt and tossing them about. She would have floated off if she could have borrowed Mary Poppin's umbrella.

Tenacious little Grant took a turn as well. Daddy made sure the string was tied tightly to the spinner and Grant held on and watched the kite careen toward the water before deciding he was done with his flight lesson. He spent most of his time throwing shells and rocks into the lake with extreme diligence. He has a good arm!

We have now learned that each child needs their own kite and it doesn't need to be very elaborate or be able to fly "up through the atmosphere". They would be happy with a small kite blowing in the wind over their heads as they run. You live and learn! This was a fun dinner time outing.