Took the boys to one of our many Portageland walking/biking trails this afternoon, and we found a moderately sized hill to roll down.  So we did.  Well, they did, and I watched and remembered what it was like to roll down hills.  When people walked by on the trail, I said “you’re welcome to try it, too” and a lady laughed.  At that moment, we were all having a good time.

After that, we went to Barnes and Noble, which is pretty great.  They have LEGO™ Duplo™ table where kids can build little towers and dads can build big towers, and dads and kids together can build a tower so tall that it becomes a load bearing member.  I bought each a book, which I’ve been doing more because I want our local bookstores — both private and corporate — to stay open.  I was a big Amazon guy up till a few months ago.  Now I fear a world with less bookstores and more warehouses and drones that are not hospitable to browsing.  We had a great time looking and and smelling books with about 83 of our bookish friends.  I wonder if they took that tower down yet.

I also did that thing where you let your kid steer while you work the gas and brake.  That, too, was more fun than they realized.  I remember doing the same thing with my dad when I was about 6.  It’s fun to do stuff with your kids that you remember doing when you were a kid.  Perspective.  I have a new appreciation for so many things.

It was a fun afternoon of rolling.  Now they’re reading themselves to sleep, Mac with a book about a wimpy kid who keeps an amazingly thorough diary, and Zac with a book about treehouses or Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving in treehouses.   I, too, am (was) reading — a newish book called Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore.  It’s quite good.