autumn morning play

I invited 4 women and their children from our small group to join me at my house and our neighborhood park this morning. Three were able to make it--Jen, Cathy, and Amy.

Oh what a beautiful morning! It was a chilly 40 degrees when I woke up, but with the sun shining, the temperatures were in the 50's and soaring toward the 60's by the time we headed out with the children to the park.

Henri, Toby, Micah, Hope, and Braden ran ahead while the moms tried to keep up with the three little girls in their strollers--Cosette, Rachel, and Allie.

Here's my friend Amy with her boys Toby (4) and Braden (2). Isn't that a nice picture?

Henri & Toby played with and smacked each other around quite a bit, both getting in trouble now and then. They're pals.


Eventually, Henri decided that he wanted his blanket and sat in the stroller, shoving away anyone who came near him, leaving me wondering if I should leave him alone or insist that he cheer up.

Then I had the magnificent idea to take a picture of all the children together.


My kids cried the whole time.
I'm still not sure why Cosette was crying.

But from left to right, here's Allie (22 mo), Cosette (22 mo), Henri (4 ½), Toby (4), Rachel (20 mo), Micah (5), Hope (3 ½), and Braden (2).

Then we walked back to my house for lunch. My friends and I enjoyed bowls of butternut squash soup--a recipe I had not made in years, but seemed perfect for this occasion.
As the children finished their lunches, they left the table to play. Henri & Toby completed their time together by taking off their clothes and urinating in our unfinished basement...thankfully, not a lot. I handed Henri a towel to wipe it up and that was that.

What a beautiful Autumn day it is! What a delightful time with my friends and our children was spent! I look forward to our next gathering at Jen's next month.