Twenty-four hours, three adventures

I stunk up last year's exploration season. But I tell you what, we're getting it in this year.

First up, a very chilly Friday-evening boat picnic with Poppop.

I pause here in honor of the coolness. He's something else, bare ankles and all.

The joy expressed when one honks the boat horn when one has been asked not to by one's Mama. And daughter.

Sent to our Giga, who undoubtedly missed us, but who was undoubtedly warmer than us, in sunny Florida.

We docked the boat well past sunset and shivered our way back to Giga and Poppop's house for an impromptu lego competition. The below three are the only photos in this entire post that Trey gave me permission to share.

Poppop and I were sternly instructed that we must be be impartial judges and were only allowed to select one winner. The boys displayed and described their creations, both of which turned out to be fortresses.

And after the competition, both fortresses were quickly destroyed. By each other.

Thank you so much, Poppop, for such a fun evening. We'll shoot for warmer weather next year!

Saturday morning, with the promise of a warm fall day in front of us, we set out to re-create what was basically our only adventure day of last year. Our first stop was the underwhelming-but-much-cheaper-than-the-real-thing corn maze/fall fun place.

Because nothing says fall like sliding down an inflatable replica of a shipwreck that killed two thousand people.

This contraption does what you think it does. And they tortured each other, laughing all the way.

The short-stalked corn maze that we got lost in yet again this year. Walked for about ten minutes and found ourselves back at the entrance. Good enough.

You might think this is sweet. You weren't there to see Aden push Trey away after the photo was snapped and pretend to gag.

By now, hunger had united them, as Trey was walking around in a daze claiming that if he didn't get something to eat soon, death was surely near. The thumbs up above are directed toward DQ.

Last stop was the college where I work. They loved the track and the trails so much last year and have been begging to come back. So back we went. Apparently my years here have blinded me to the utter coolness of this place, because the boys absolutely love it. My cube, the fountain, the track, the amphitheater, all rank right up there in boy world. Great things for me to think about as I type the working hours away.