On Wednesday, September 29th, we had a kind of late birthday celebration for Nick, since his friend couldn’t come over on his actual birthday. Oma and Opa went up to school to listen to his piano lesson, then picked up T. on the way to our house. We all walked over together, through the woods and fields, to the fire pit marked with stone badgers. It’s become the kids absolute favorite place to eat and play. How lucky that it is so close to our home.
Papa and Opa built a beautiful fire, and while it was becoming less of an inferno, and more just hot coals, the boys and Oma went exploring the nearby swamp. 
The only caution I gave them, was to please not fall completely into the water. (Noah did that once, thinking it was more frozen than it was.) They had a grand old time, despite the fact that Nick’s shoe got stuck in the mud for a scary moment or two. 
This is why I love that Nick and T. are friends. He pushes Nick to do things he would never think of on his own. And they have fun! T. even found a baby frog, and brought it over to show the girls.
Then we set it free again, to find his family.
Sarah, of course, brought a book to read. But at least she was outside in the fresh air, and she did end up running around with everyone else a bit later. 
It was such a gorgeous day! Alexandra’s eating some vegetable appetizers, waiting for the “hock gogs” to finish cooking. Finally it was time to call everyone over from the swamp to eat.
And seriously, what chemical changes occur in food when it is brought outside that makes it taste so much better? At any rate, everything was pretty much devoured, and we were left with happy tummies and smiling faces. 
Oh, and see those cool plates on the table? Best thing I have purchased in a long time. Tin picnic plates! Reusable, light as air, sturdy as real plates. Hurray!
Papa checked the coals and said they were ready to roast marshmallows! And I had a new idea to try for s’mores. I brought the chocolate covered butter cookies they sell here, and had the kids sandwich their marshmallow between them.
Perfect! And I only had to pack 2 ingredients. 🙂 We played a bit longer, and then it was time to slowly head back home.
Some of us had ridden bikes, some had walked. This is my favorite photo from the whole day. 
That, right there, is true love; Opa bent over in a very not comfortable position, pushing Noah almost all the way home. And he had nothing but encouraging, positive words for him the whole time. So sweet. Nick is holding his special walking stick he found on the class trip to the French speaking side of Switzerland last June. He takes it on every walk we go on now.
We got home and played a game of Settlers of Cattan. Naturally, I lost. T. is just too good! Nick and I need to band together and destroy him next time. haha! But I actually prefer playing nice. If T. isn’t playing, I usually win, even though I trade with anyone who asks me, and have a house rule that the robber always just stays in the desert. Helps keep hurt feelings at bay. It was a very nice day.