The Boys in the Yard

When the weather's nice, one of our favorite things to do is to take Ben and Barney outside in the yard to run around. They love to play with each other and it gives the dog exercise and tires Ben out so he's ready for nap and bedtime when it comes. Since it has been beautiful out lately, we've been going outside a lot and it has become the highlight of Ben's day. When I ask if he wants to take Barney outside he starts yelling "Buh Buh" (aka Barney) and immediately runs to get his shoes so I can put them on him!

Today I snapped photos while Andrew played with the boys in the yard.


Riding the big, fierce Barney bareback. Of course Barney doesn't seemed fazed by anything Ben does to him and seemed more interested in eating grass than the fact that there was a giggling 28 pounder on his back!

Playing fetch with Barney. Barney will *sometimes* let Ben have his toy and is very gentle with him but usually prefers almost letting Ben grab the toy and then turning away at the last minute. Sometimes this game even results in Ben being totally knocked off his feet, laying dumbfounded for a second or two in the grass and then giggling and getting back up to try full-force to get that toy away from the dog again!

Sharing the toy together. With us, Barney will pull his hardest to try to get it back but with Ben he is very gentle.

Running after Barney as he goes to play fetch...determined that he will get there before the 90 pound dog...

Pulling Barney's tail to try to get him to drop the toy when, in fact, Barney manages to reach it first. We checked a book out of the library recently called Tails Are Not for Pulling...and this is a concept we are trying to work on...

Just before coming inside, Andrew and Ben did some chin-ups together. Ben always thinks this is hilarious when Andrew lifts him up into the air and then makes funny faces at him in the meantime.