Just me and the three little rascals… the weather is turning nice and chilly, the kind of weather where you start off in layers that turn up ripped off and flung into the air halfway through the day. We all love this weather in our house. A kind of hunkering down is on the horizon. I smelled fire in the air in the evenings as I walked back from the playground with the boys after dinner, and the smell brought back a flood of good harvest memories along with the wonderful anticipation of what’s to come: the apple picking and pumpkin patch trips, Thanksgiving with ones we love, upcoming concerts with friends (we have some good ones coming up!), and guitar and banjo playing by a warm fire, cups of tea after the boys have fallen asleep at night. Such good parts of this life. 
We spent most of our weekend outdoors again. Milo was off school on Friday, so it felt like a real treat to have him around an extra day. We lived life unapologetic- we like to go and do, we like to live and explore and learn. We collected butterfly wings and fallen buckeyes, tried to fit them back into the shells from which they came. Their smooth skins matched the impossibly silky inside of their husk. Oliver held them in his hands and marveled at their perfection. 
The boys were inseparable; laughing and cuddling, reading and running and wrestling… fighting and bickering and whining and punching (Oliver punched; Milo frankly deserved it) and hugging and racing and laughing some more. These guys have the energy of 10 jackrabbits. I fell into bed exhausted and smiling every night. 
I took all three boys to Milo’s circus class on Saturday at the City Museum. We stayed to play in the 6-and-under room afterwards, ate a bit of cotton candy (they’ve had it twice in their lives- a real treat) while watching the circus show, then they talked me into playing a bit in the “ramp room.”
I couldn’t say no, because watching them use their bodies and test their limits is joyful for all, some of the best learning happens this way. They are some pretty amazing and confident kids, I think.
I feel lucky to be able to spend so much time with them, to listen to their giggles and answer their funny questions. I refuse to take this good life for granted. 
You seem very ‘present’ in your description of parenting lately, which is wonderful. I’m always amazed that not only do you get out of the house so often, but you can also get pictures on your own. I’ve been out a lot lately with just the kids, and with Ruby now strapped to me I cannot figure out where to put a camera!