One Smith Day

So - Brian and James, Alyssa, Faith, Jonathan and Andrew left Friday afternoon to head on their camping adventure. 

Peter, Matthew and I stayed home.  

The first thing we did was set up "Peter's tent".  Then we had a picnic lunch in the living room.  Turkey sandwiches and Cheetos.  Yum!

Peter wasted no time getting his pillows and blankets into the tent. 

After lunch we played outside and did a little slip-n-sliding.  It was more like flop-n-crawl though.  I have a funny video somewhere - but no time to post it now. 

We grilled hot dogs and had a picnic outside for dinner.  We had planned to make some s'mores, but our bag of marshmallows accidental ended up on the camping trip with the others.  We'll do it a different time. 

We rented a Muppet movie.  Peter really liked that. 

Then we stayed up late and got a little crazy!

We put stickers on our foreheads.

And on our feet too! 

Finally I was able to get Peter to bed sometime after 11pm. 

This morning we woke up and had muffins for breakfast.  Then we jumped in the car and headed out to the Mall of Louisiana.

This is the reflection of just the three of us in a store window. 

Here is Peter next to the latest Mini Cooper inside the mall.

Peter at the little kids' play area.

There was another family there so Matthew refused to get down and play. 

This is what he did for the first few minutes.  Sat on the bench by me. 

And he sat in my lap.

Finally he got up the nerve to venture out. 

He had a good time.

He loved this tunnel!

Peter on a bridge.

After that family left we had the whole place to ourselves.  It was pretty quiet in the mall because it was just 10am.

We took the elevator upstairs in search of some more good times. 

We came across the carousel near the food court.

Peter picked a horse.  The nice old man who was running the carousel put him up on the horse and buckled him in.  Peter was all smiles. 

Until it was about to go.  Then he started breathing heavy and telling me he was scared. 

I talked him out of his panic though and he enjoyed the ride. 

Matthew and I got to ride for free.  The animal next to Peter's horse was a grey cat.  Matthew didn't really notice though.  He was so interested in the mirrors in the middle of the carousel. 

We were the only people on the ride.  It was fun but it was a looooong ride.  I don't know if the guy let us ride longer because no one was in line or what.  I was beginning to think that Peter had had his fill, but it did stop and we got off in one piece.  I had a couple of extra tokens but Peter didn't ask to do it again.  Maybe we'll get a chance another day. 

We then went to the dollar store and picked up some sunglasses and an orange star balloon.  We had lunch and are cleaning up the house because we just got word that the troops are on their way home! 

I can't wait to see them and hear all about their adventure.