Backyard Digging

The morning after a good thunderstorm is a superb time to explore the backyard.  The ground is soft and ready for digging, the worms are easier to find, and everything seems slightly cleaner.  We grabbed our buckets and shovels and ran squealing to the backyard.  (Fine.  They didn't squeal.)

While Rose still hasn't quite figured out what to do with her bucket, Dale was ready to dig and get dirty.

This picture is a perfect representation of Dale in the moment:  Mouth open, chatting away, bucket and shovel in hand, Cars shirt and Woody shoes on, no socks, hair uncombed.

Dale finally figured out how to put his own shoes on.  Socks, however, he has not mastered.

Rose was being particularly photogenic that day, so I kept snapping away.

This is a very Rose face.

I'm guessing it's the polka dot pants and the shirt with a giraffe in roller skates that are making her so happy.

Dale likes to make bug habitats in our backyard.  He takes a bucket and fills it with dirt and sticks and rocks, making a nice comfy home for whatever bug we may find to put in it.

Showing off future home for earthworm.

We found one worm that day, and Dale worked very hard building its bucket habitat.  When it was time to leave it, Dale was very concerned whether or not the worm would be okay without him.  What a sweet boy.

Before heading inside, we examined the different flowers, and Rose got a chance to do her favorite thing:  swing.  Lately Dale loves to push Rose in the swing, even though it petrifies her.

I would say Dale is a happy, energetic, and expressive little boy.