"All we need is love!"

I have been loving my toddler lately. On Saturday, we spent the day out at the "Ranch" of some friends of ours. It seems that ranch is used they way "cabin" is used in the mountains at home and in Colorado - everything is a "ranch" - with or without animals, or even running water. (the one we visited had neither). It was a fun time, but very hot (no such thing as "too hot" anymore). Buck spent a good deal of time chasing around the large boxer that came with one of the families, but he also loved walking in the fields of dandelions. He would yell "Bubbles!" and proceed to blow and shake the flowers as the little floaty seeds came off each one. It was so fun to see his mind processing in almost an imaginary way. He was so happy for the 8 hours we were at the ranch. Sunburned (bad mommy), mosquito bitten (though not as much as his mother) and tired, but he had an excellent time. On Friday (going backwards in time), Buck insisted on carrying 2 latex balloons around all day. He would put the loops around his wrists and shake the dying/deflating balloons every now and then. This was both funny & inconvenient as we had to go to the doctor to check on Buck's 3 week old cough in the middle of the balloon phase. Nothing like a 1/2 naked toddler sitting on a doctor's table with 2 floppy balloons around his wrists. Thank goodness that Dr. Tam has a son Buck's age. He and I both thought the whole thing hilarious. It was also funny when the Dr. asked Buck what is wrong and he answered, "Bad cough." Which is totally true. Buck also said, "bye, do-cor Tam." Pathetic when this is the proudest moment of a woman's week, isn't it?

We're just back from "mom's time out" which is our standing date every Monday. Buck plays and I work out. Buck has a very good friend in Charlie, who also goes. They have begun to play together and look for each other like real friends. The socialization of a child is incredible. Buck is this little happy dreamer (has always been as I look back) and Charlie is a dynamo - never-stop-going kid. They follow each other and copy each other. It's quite funny & more than a little scary. It always makes me think of Buck's first best friend, Gunnar. I'm was sad that they don't get to interact like that now.

The pictures are of another friend, Keaton. Keaton and Buck are "sprinkler friends." Every time Keaton and his mommy come over, Buck and Keaton spend hours trying to figure out the sprinkler. It has just gotten hot enough that we can turn on the sprinkler, but we haven't tried that yet. Keaton's mom & dad are renovating their house - so she's awfully busy. It's an active world we've got going here.