Six-year-old Chelsea carefully placed plastic beads on a tray. She followed the instructions and arranged the beads in the shape of a bluebird. Her mom, Eleanor, sat beside her at the table, making her own flower design. When they finished, Eleanor would use the iron to fuse the beads, completing the project.
Before that, though, her dad Parley came in from the backyard, grinning. Eleanor looked up at him, her eyes shining.
"Is it done?" she asked.
"Yep!" Parley said. He smiled at Chelsea and said, "Your mom and I have a surprise for you."
Chelsea sat straight in her chair. "What surprise?"
Parley held out his hand, and Chelsea slid out of her seat to grab it. He took her to the sliding-glass door that led out to the backyard. Before he could open the door, she saw the surprise and jumped up and down.
"A trampoline?" Chelsea squealed. With the door open, she bolted from her dad's grasp and stood at the side of the new structure. She could just barely see over the top if she stood on her tiptoes.
Parley walked up behind her and lifted her into the air, setting her down on the trampoline.
"What do you think?" Eleanor asked.
Chelsea jumped with her little legs, giggling. The surface of the trampoline didn't move much, but she didn't notice. She felt like she was flying.
"Daddy, come up! Mommy, come up!" Chelsea said.
Parley hoisted himself up, and Eleanor got up gracefully. The three jumped around for a while, enjoying each other's company.