they were worried he was in heaven.

n~ mom, he didn't even come when we had a steak out.

true, as soon as i fired up the grill, 

chance was right by my side.

no sign of him all summer...

until today.

we were crafting outside and suddenly he was there.

they were estatic.

hugging him.

filling up bowls of water.

finding tennis balls to throw to him.

for the first three summers, 

we didn't know his name.

we called him boy.

he lives at the house at the bottom of our land.

he walks up through the trees.

my theory...

his boys are getting older and not much for playing.

my boys love him as their own.

easiest pet we've ever had.

black asphalt +

soft chalk =
vibrantly,

colored

driveway.

courtesy lauren, nicklaus & mariah.

jamison hasn't been since she was 6 months old.

old enough to enjoy all the rides this time.

nicklaus' playground.

the child never tires.

lauren has never been.

that will never happen again.

charlie was there to catch sam on his first solo run on the big kid slides.

unstoppable after that.

he was all about sam enjoying his day...

no worries there.

the day ended with a cluster of cousins,

on the covered bridge,

after a dessert date,

at the pied piper.

jogathon today at school.

nicklaus in constant motion.

always in the pack.

15 laps.

 

monday nights.

in the firehouse.

$2 for 3 cards.

3 hours of fun.

grandpa was the big winner tonight.

he split a $10 pot with one other winner.

nicklaus lived and died with every game.

so close many times.

charlie finally burned out after an 8 card game.

sam lasted about 45 minutes.

he played his own card.

finding his own letters and numbers.

after no nap and an afternoon at the forest...

he was the first to retire.