This is the life

"This is the life," AJ declared last night as he raked leaves that had fallen in the yard on the side of the house.

Funny how this one particular chose can seem like such a treat.

It probably has something to do with the ever-building anticipation for what would happen next.

Ready... Set...

Jump!

 

Of course, that was followed by AJ doing what big brothers do: stuffing leaves in his sister's hood and down her back.

 

Sydney thought it was funny at first.

But quickly grew tired of it. And so AJ resorted to throwing leaves in  the air.

While Sydney attempted to do to me what her brother had just done to her. Um... no thank you.

 

And then it was time to do it all again: Rake the leaves into another pile. 

 

 

And then jump, throw leaves, wrestle and giggle.

 

 

Worth mentioning... did you notice who was in a lot of the photos... running loose and sticking close to the kids as opposed to disappearing into the neighborhood?

I decided to try a little experiment with Gus last night. I let him loose from the back yard fence. And then ignored him. As expected, he took off running. I told the kids not to chase him but rather to continue playing in our yard. We kept an eye on him through the trees as he sniffed around the neighbor's yard. And then, sure enough, he decided what we were doing seemed like a lot more fun and so he returned on his own.

 

We praised him, and played with him, and totally tired him out - so much so that he actually went to the front door and waited to go inside for some water.

 

Yes, there's still hope for Gus.