Picnic in the Park

On Tuesday this week, I was suddenly struck with the horrifying thought that there was only one week of July left, one week of blissful unstructured days that didn't include any time at my place of employment. But there's much more than a week's worth of activities that I haven't done yet! Where to begin! One of my top priorities was a picnic in the neighborhood park with my nieces/sister/
great-neices & nephews. Fortuitously, today worked out for everyone with small children.Chavan insisted on sharing his cookie with Grandpa.

Cody really knows how to get comfortable when he eats! Ouch!

Jenna - how can a one-year-old be so good at posing as soon as she sees a camera!?

Tamarick, Cody, and Brenden had a great time on the play equipment.

The boys also found many things to do off the the playground equipment. They made numerous trips around walking on the edging, and also enjoyed racing each other around the outside the edging. We won't mention any trips behind the bushes that an eagle-eyed mother noticed and raced over to re-direct her son to the enclosed facilities.

Chavan and Jenna both loved the swing. I have always loved to watch the sheer joy of a small child on a swing.

This little guy was everywhere. He enjoyed the playground, but everything else was also entertaining to him!
As he was running back to the picnic table, he ran past the garbage container. With an exclamation of "Oh!" he turned back and thoroughly enjoyed opening and closing the door, until his mother redirected him. I had always walked right by there and never actually opened the door to view the garbage cart inside. I believe all the mothers did some sprinting to rescue their children from activities that would not be of their choosing -his mother definitely got to sprint more times than anyone else!

These kids are so cute and lovable. The only thing that could have made the day better was the presence of those who were absent. Dawn, we missed the Hermiston crowd!

I love being an aunt and great-aunt!