Wha?

Shane requested to go to the small local church again. I think it's twofold: 1) The service is later so he doesn't have to stop doing whatever he's doing when I first ask, and 2) It's a short drive and has gotten out early twice.

He may enjoy their being less kids, so that he gets more individual attention, as well.

It was a little awkward today, because the pastor opened up about dealing with depression and then announced he was returning to teaching. I told him he was "2 for 2" with sermons in my life on the way out.

Shane and I went by the house to grab Loki and then we drove into town. We met Dylan and Eli at Riverview Park. 

It's been a while! This was the first time we managed to coordinate with an old friend since being in the new house. Dylan and Shane both wanted to grab tablets right away, but we told them they had to play on their own for a bit first (I may have set a timer and then stopped it after they wandered off....).

Eli was interested in the puppy. "That's an Eli-sized dog," John said.

Either this picture is John offering to let Eli hold the leash, or it's John holding the leash as far away from himself as possible in case owning a dog is contagious.

Loki was super social and really enjoyed all of the kids and people at the park. He was an attention magnet! Eventually there were several kids running around with Eli letting Loki chase them.

Dylan got in on the fun after a while, too!

Shane? He was a bump on a log until I took the tablet away. He didn't even realize Dylan wasn't sitting next to him anymore.

I was a little worried about Loki overheating/over-exerting himself, so I had to call a break eventually. He had not peed or pooped since we'd been to the park, either. I think he was so overstimulated he didn't know what to do with himself! He wouldn't go to the bathroom the whole two hours we were there and crashed for a nap when we finally did go home.

But before we left we went on a trail walk. Eli had really wanted to go for a while. The older boys did not, but they didn't have a choice. There was a lot of digging in the sand, running, throwing rocks, and the boys would have probably loved to have jumped in the river if we let them.

John sent me this picture later. Shane mooched a pair of shades from Dylan.

John shepherded the boys on the trail for the most part. 

I shepherded the sheepdog. 

Loki had trouble on the leash. He was so small that the collar would pop off if I wasn't careful when he dug in his heels and about faced. I ended up carrying him most of the way. His little heart was pounding from all the running earlier. 

The boys would have liked to have continued the party at Dylan and Eli's, but I wanted to let Loki rest. The little guy passed out on the seat next to Shane the whole way home!