The start of Fall

I realize we're still officially in the throes of summer, but Saturday was such a Fall-like day, we couldn't help but be reminded that our favorite season is upon us. Even better, it was one of those days that is just enjoyable from start to finish.

The morning was crisp, cool and perfect. The kids were up at around 7:00. We started with a little breakfast, and after a quick trip to the farmer's market for some fresh eggs, we decided to go on a run with the kids to Loose Park. As Mandy pulled out the double jogging stroller, Noah quickly declared that he was going to run with us. Mandy and I rolled our eyes at each other, thinking that our opportunity for quality morning exercise was over before it began.

Noah started running with me while Mandy started jogging with Elliot in the double stroller. After less than half a block, Noah said he was thirsty. This is a standard excuse of his when he gets tired of riding his bike with us and wants us to stop for him, while he gets a drink from one of our water bottles. This time I told him he'd have to wait until we at least got to the end of the first block. We did a quick stop, and then he surprised us both by taking off and not really stopping for almost a quarter-mile, and then only because he "needed to catch his exercise" (his breath). After, literally, about five seconds, he jumped back up and took off again. We repeated this four or five times until we ran the entire 1.5 mile route to the park, and even then he wasn't quite finished, as we ran another quarter mile or so to the duck pond. At 3 years old.

We explored the park a little, and visited the Rose Garden, then headed down to the Plaza for a treat of chocolate milk at Starbucks for the boys, and to pick up my car that I'd left there overnight.

Loose Park Rose Garden

Afterwards, we drove home, got a bag packed, and went to the Zoo. We weren't the only people with that idea, as the weather was perfect and there was a new Polar Bear exhibit to see. Given the crowd at the exhibit, we skipped it and went on to see some of the other stuff. We took the train to "Australia", poked around there a bit, and had lunch on a nice big rock that Noah picked out. Elliot was winding down and getting ready for a nap, so we decided to walk back to the entrance and ran into Mandy's sister, who decided to visit the zoo with Charlie and Jason & his boys. We invited them over afterwards for a cookout, and left. Along the way we walked into what we thought was some kind of underwater exhibit and instead found that we'd walked into the below-water viewing area of the 140,000 gallon pool, and got to watch the bear swimming laps (ahead of all the people waiting in line, apparently). He'd swim underwater right up to the glass, put all four paws on the glass and push off again.

That afternoon, most of Mandy's family came over for a grill-out of hot dogs, fish tacos and salmon. The five older boys - Charlie, Noah, Cole, Elijah and Luke all played tag and hide-and-seek and other games outside while the adults chatted inside.

Kid table

Cole chasing Noah

Elijah giving Charlie a ride

Cole giving Luke a ride

Having 4 boys over to run wild with makes Noah a happy boy!

They were hiding here

Elliot riding his favorite little bike (hand-me-down from our neighbors) excited about Grandpa Rick's truck

Happy Charlie

Noah & Elijah

Elliot generously sharing his drumstick with "uh-suh" (Aunt Sam)

Yummy!

Poor Cole hurt his ankle

Trying to get every last drop of ice cream

Grandma Anita was singing "Wheels on the Bus" and E was cracking up

As if the boys weren't dirty and tired enough, around 7:00 several of us headed down to Edgevale Park to let Charlie, Noah and Elliot play in the dirt and sand.

We finally got back to the house after 8:00, and after a tub-blackening bath and a few bedtime stories (where both boys actually sat quietly and listened), Noah and Elliot slipped off to dreamland quickly.