We had a fun and tiring Memorial Day weekend, with a trip to see Ed's great-grandparents in Chariton and a lot of outdoor play.

Ed and Great-grandpa Askren played a bit on Saturday during our visit. We had a big meeting room for our small gathering, which meant Edward had the chance to do a lot of walking and get in a lot of laps. He appreciated the extra space!

On Sunday, we went downtown to play on the big playground equipment they have next to the library. At one point, Edward noticed the fountain that's just down the pedestrian mall from the play area. He wandered over, fearlessly, and started toward the water. Mary took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his pantlegs and he sallied forth. We caught this photo with her cell phone, capturing the moment when he stuck his hand into the spray to make a nice wet mess for everyone. He really enjoyed it, and I'm sure we'll be back as the temperatures climb this summer.

Today we spent at home, catching time outside between short rain showers. Edward is getting more bold about venturing around the yard these days, taking time to stop and, well, he didn't smell the flowers, but he did try to pluck their petals off. Either way, his expression here isn't really indicative of his overall attitude toward the peonies.