Henry and I walked up to Starbucks Saturday afternoon. (This was before I had even seen the list of things he likes). It was a beautiful day and a walk with a favored destination is most of the time the only way to get him out of the house. He took along a couple "prints" from the computer, and talked about those for the first half a block, but then started looking around him and commenting on the beautiful day and beautiful trees. I am reminded that these prints are a transition item and can then be tucked into my purse or pocket. This works so well, and there's little need to force him to leave them at home. That causes anxiety, and makes him even less interested in transitioning.

I gave him $5 and had him order his own coffee cake. While he ate, he asked "where is Tommy?" He has been doing this lately- wondering where his brother is when he is not with us. It is encouraging to me- they are used to having one another around. I reminded him that Tommy was at home napping. Then I asked him "do you like having a little brother?" (Of course you know the answer I was hoping for.) "No" Henry replied casually.

My balloon deflated a little. But then I noticed him smiling a little sideways smirk. "Hey- are you messing with me?" I asked. "Yes." His little sense of humor is coming along nicely.

On the walk home we chatted with a couple neighbors and petted a dog. At school they call their field trips "community trips" and I guess that's what this was too- getting some experience being out in the community.

For Mother's Day we met Grandma & Grandpa at a dairy farm midway between our cities. The family that owns the farm has added attractions over the years- they make their own ice cream, have 2 restaurants, miniature golf, and animals you can feed. New this time was a sort-of train ride: individual cars strung together and pulled by a tractor. Grandpa asked Tommy if he wanted to ride. I gave Grandpa the camera, not realizing that they would be riding together- so I didn't get a picture. But they sat in the last car and it was a very bumpy ride around the farm!!

Henry loved the animals, of course. If I won the lottery I think I would buy a dairy farm for us (and hire some people to run it- my farm experience is a generation removed!)

Grandpa let Thomas choose his own ice cream cone- so of course the boy picked out a waffle cone dipped in chocolate and sprinkles, filled with chocolate ice cream. It was bigger than him!

And yes, he's wearing his pajamas.

On the drive to and from Young's Dairy, we listened to daddy's "junior" mix on the ipod. It features some Disney songs, Peter, Paul and Mary, marching band, Jack Johnson, and Ben Harper. The boys did not argue one bit and I loved to hear their little voices singing in harmony.

While we were gone, Bill cleaned up the house a bit and he cooked a yummy dinner on the grill. Then Kate put the boys to bed while we grownups took a walk.

Henry gave me a potted plant, some homemade chocolate covered pretzels, and a votive candle holder made of a baby food jar, blue tissue paper, and a ribbon.

Boy, it was hard to come back to work today after such a nice weekend!