First Day of Autumn

I love this time of year in Washington. The end of summer and beginning of fall brings out the best of both in my mind. Cool, crisp fall mornings turn into hot, sunny afternoons. Flowers are still blooming everywhere, but the leaves are also just starting to turn color. It's a beautiful season! But it also makes me a bit sad, because I know rainy, cold days are just around the corner. And while a few of those days are fun to stay inside and bake cookies or do a project, we will definitely not enjoy the day after day of rain that seems to hit Washington every year during late fall. And we look forward even less to the dreary, cold days of winter ahead.

So, to celebrate the first day of autumn two days ago and to enjoy the beginning of our last times to wear shorts and play in the sun for the year, the kids and I went for a long walk, ending at the park next to our house where we had a picnic lunch. We had a great time! Ben only got fussy toward the end of the walk - so much different on stroller rides than Abby was at this age!

Enjoying the double stroller garage sale find ($20) - the hand-brake is broken and the shoulder straps don't work, but hey it is in decent shape, it was comparably cheap and it allows me to take both kids on a walk by myself!

Abby had a wonderful time playing at the park, even though she was a bit sad there were no other kids there (apparently because school is now in session). "No kids, Mama," she said as she looked around. So, she got to enjoy the place to herself.

It's amazing to me how much Abby has grown in her physical developments over the spring and summer months. When we first started going outside in the springtime, Abby could barely walk on the uneven, outside ground since she'd learned to walk mostly inside only during the winter months. She needed help on all parts of the toys at the playground too. Now, she has full run of the toys at the park, even going down the big slide by herself and climbing without assistance up the big "rock wall" (of sorts). She loves to climb and has little problems with rough terrain. The only thing she doesn't seem to have down yet is running. Oh, she likes to think she can run - she picks up her speed to at-most a fast walk and says, "I running, Mama!" - but she really isn't. =) Soon though, I'm sure.

The rock wall at the park.