Morning Walk

Each morning, after breakfast and before naptime, Owen and I go for a walk. I say, "Do you want to go outside?" and Owen immediately stops what he's doing, walks to the front door, sits down, and starts trying to put his shoes on. (On this particular morning, we also had to put on a jacket because it was (gasp) 66 degrees outside. Two neighbors commented immediately about it being so "chilly." Yes. YES. "It IS chilly!" In some parts of the country, I have been laughed at for making or agreeing with that statement.) We hold hands as we walk out the door and down the front steps. Then we walk down the street to the speed bump or "speed hump" as its signage reads.
Owen walks back and forth over the speed hump about 100 times while we sing and talk and run and hop as we go. When he's had enough of that, he moves on to tire-touching.
This boy just plain LOVES tires. He likes to touch the lug nuts. (Disclaimer: I have never used the word "lug nut" before until this moment. I just now asked Bill what the bolts on a tire were called.)

He also likes to pick up leaves, Sweetgum balls, and any small bits of trash that might be lying around. He has a generous soul, so when he finds something good, he immediately turns to share it with me.
Playing "share" is a big game at our house. Here's how to play: Owen hands you something. You say, "Thank you!" (like you mean it) and then display your enthusiasm and perhaps some imaginative uses for the item that has just been shared. Owen smiles and watches patiently, unless you take too long, in which case he will reach for the item to indicate this. You hand it back. Then, repeat.

With arms full of treasures, fingers dirty with tire grease, and legs ready for rest, we head back inside for a story and sleep.