It rained hard in Trenton this morning. So hard that, while it was going on, DogDog™ and LittleDog™ hid under the eaves with Daddy, rather than go out into the rain to do their business on the lawn. Cowards.

But the rain stopped, as rain does. But the wind kept the trees spitting and frothing and the air was chill and damp. But the dogs needed their walky and they would not go without encouragement, and Daddy would not leave Liam inside. So we put LittleBoy® in the Baby Bjørn carrier, put a hat on him, and sallied forth with LittleDog™ into the wet wonderland of the back yard.

Pour encourager les autres, Daddy stepped off the deck into the soggy bog. Ruben ambled after, constantly checking with the boss to be sure things were okay and the bad rain wasn't coming back. The ancient maple tree showered Ruben with blessings from time to time, and each massive drop prompted another check: Daddy, it moisted me again. Can we go back in? Liam's hat kept him safe from that sort of thing, and he frolicked like a four-month-old (squirm, flail, kick Daddy).

Daddy got to circle the small patch of stuggling grass between the garage and the deck and the ivy and the fence (It's not a lot, but it's all ours!) a few times. Squish, squish, squish.

Is there an attraction between little boys and mud puddles? If there is, then blame Daddies. Squish!

Oops. That one wasn't mud. *Vigourously scape shoe on the ground.*

The back yard was so much fun that Daddy wanted more outside adventure. Furthermore, Akbar missed out on that party. In addition, we have three letters to mail and a postbox halfway around the block.

Back in the Baby Bjørn for LittleBoy®, put overshirt and hat on him (memo to self: put shirt on first, then put Liam in the carrier). Leash up the DogDog™, trenchcoat over the shoulders, plastic bag in one pocket, letters in the other. Hat, keys, out the door, get the dog-do shovel and go. Ruben sang to us as we walked to the sidewalk and turned right.

Naturally, having planned and prepared for either rain or Akbar transacting business on the neighbor's lawn, neither event happened. Liam, however enjoyed the trip immensely, kicking and talking and looking at the water-laden trees drizzling their burderns onto all and sundry. And so Daddy enjoyed the trip, too.