Slides, Trucks, and Fetch

TJ loves being outside. He loves the sidewalk. Gosh, he could walk up and down the sidewalk with his push toy all day long if he had his way. He also is learning to enjoy the backyard.

Recently we inherited a little tykes play tower with a slide from a colleague of mine. It is perfect for TJ as he develops physically and explores what he can and can't do with his body. He loves sitting on the top platform with the sides all around. It is almost as if he has his own little club house elevated off of the ground. Sometimes he will take his book or his sippy cup up there and hang out for minutes on end (and for TJ minutes is a long time).

Over the course of the week he has learned how to go down the slide all by himself. He does pretty well with it too. Of course when he first started he was trying to go down the slide head first. My, he has come a long way. Also during this past week he has learned that his toy truck can go down the slide all by itself too. AND MAN DOES IT TAKE AIR! TJ thinks this is the funniest thing ever. Mom thinks it is a hoot when he laughs.

And finally, the other favorite thing TJ likes to do in the back yard is play fetch with our dog, Poly. I think TJ thinks this is pretty cool because Poly-- like TJ-- is willing to do the same thing over and over and over again. TJ will "throw" the ball and with out fail, Poly will run to get it and bring it back again and again and again. They are best friends now, cause neither of them tire of this game. TJ feels a bit more safe playing fetch when he is on the top of his club house or in his swing when he knows Poly can't jump and grab the ball out of his hand. TJ has even started rolling the ball down the slide for Poly to chase.

As the daylight gets shorter and the weather gets a little colder, we are still in our backyard trying to make the most of it before winter sets in. But man, think of the fun we will have landing in a pile of fluffy white snow.