An Afternoon in the Back Yard

This week hasn't been in the 100s (only the 90s), which is what we Okies like to refer to as a cool front.  As a result, the kids, Gus, and I spent this afternoon in the back yard.  Here are some pictures I got of the festivities.

Shepherd started out by simply playing in the mud.

He then progressed to spreading it thickly onto his face.

After finding this uncomfortable, he washed it off by spraying a hose directly into his face.  I question the wisdom of this method.

Lydia spent the afternoon teething on our lawn furniture,...

practicing her newest acquired skill of walking (always tight-rope style with the arms out),...

and strategically placing herself in an air current for that high-fashion-magazine look.

Gus just set around displaying his dorky new haircut.

Apparently, the groomer had never done an Old English Sheepdog, but she did have experience with poodles, hence the poofy head,...

and the puff ball at the end of his tail.

Eventually, Shepherd realized that Lydia wasn't simply a fussy, toy-stealing little baby sister.  She is also another body on which to spread mud.

So they played harmoniously together in the mud.

Lydia sampled a little taste to see what exactly it is her brother is always gorging on.

 And eventually, I managed to get the rarest of gems: A picture of Shepherd looking in my general direction smiling.  Mud just makes him that happy.