Toddler Photography at Lake Fairfax Park

There she was. The grandmother of all turtles. The largest freshwater turtle I had ever laid eyes on. She was majestic. Surreal. A myth. If you saw her, it was because she graced you with her presence. When I spotted her in all her shell glory, toddler and baby turtles were swimming about - over, under, and around her. Like the little guys needed to cover every cubic inch of water before the day ended. I couldn't tell if she was annoyed, loved, or both, but she was patient if nothing else. I couldn't help but empathize. I guess children are the same in every species. I once spotted a deer frolicking and jumping about as if it had gained new-found freedom. I suspected it was an adolescent. 

I'm sorry to say I did not get a shot of the beautiful lady turtle. Wildlife photography isn't my thing, although a friend said outdoor photography is a slippery slope into being a bird enthusiast…. I did take a couple pictures of the geese. It was gosling season and I couldn't help it. I'm a family photographer after all and those baby soft feathers looked delectable. We do teach our toddler to steer clear of geese, though, especially during gosling season. We've seen too many videos of people getting attacked and I've gotten some death glares from the father goose on patrol during hatching season when I've parked in a parking lot and had to walk too close for comfort. Of course, the daring families at Fairfax Lake Park didn't seem to mind the hissing and braved the flock of geese anyways to feed the large birds some bread. One ballsy teenage girl decided it was her mission to try and touch a gosling. She hadn't succeeded by the time we left. 

While I question the sanity and common sense of others, the families amidst the birds would have taken nice photos. Instead, I got perfectly safe pictures of my toddler running around and playing by the lake. The kayaks made for colorful backdrops and the setting sun on the water was a classic. In one shot, our little girl is smiling big. She's stumbling toward a big fish someone caught. She practically ran to it. After the kind man showed her the trout, she decided that she was no longer enthused and that dying fish weren't her thing. I think she was relieved when the young man released the fish back into the water. I have fond memories of fishing with my own father, but never made it a hobby. Hiking became more my thing. Spending time with family remained a cherished act.

Time with family is a precious thing. This particular trip to the lake was also fun. Our toddler had woken up from a nap in time for us to arrive at Lake Fairfax Park, which I had been wanting to explore for a while. It's perfect for the little ones who can't walk far yet and just want to sit at the lake or for the bigger kids who want to walk the circumference of the lake. We would later return to Lake Fairfax Park multiple times to enjoy their Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole. Summers can be unbearably hot and the cool water makes it easier. But even without visiting the water park, the lake is lovely. 

Our toddler explored every nook and cranny of the place. I was entranced by the grassy hill facing the lake. The golden soft colors the sun cast on the hill, the brick, the wood, and the boats. It was pleasant with the sun reflecting off the water. Our toddler just stood and stared at the water for a while, soaking in the sight of the trees and how they mirrored themselves in the water. I'm constantly surprised by the beauty around us. It's nice to sit for a brief moment enjoying the scenery before running after a child to ensure they decide not to go for a refreshing dip in the lake. There were a few moments where she was a tad close to the lake that made me worry, but she remained dry. 

We spent the rest of the day identifying the difference between goslings and ducklings, geese and ducks, as both were present that day. It was a sight to see such a large flock of birds in one place. I'm not sure if Lake Fairfax Park is always like that or not, but gosling season is brief and we enjoyed that day while we could.