text: Tureks of the North: May 2015
  As a preface, I should note that Henry really loves his new shoes -- really loves them. They aren't very fancy for being regular Velcro shoes, but they have the Avengers picture on the side. Also, the Avengers light up when he takes a step. He has had zero exposure to the Avengers, so for all I know he thinks the superhero team's superpower is creating flashing red lights. He loves these shoes, and took them to school for show and tell. It's a sad time if we're going somewhere muddy and he needs to put boots on instead.
  After school this week Becky took the kids to the zoo for a picnic lunch and a quick lap past some of the favorite animals. At one point they found themselves on a wooden bridge near the wolf and tiger cage. Obviously the exhibits were not connected, but there was a section below the bridge that was fenced off. Not quite in the cages, but certainly off limits to visitors. When Becky was holding Henry up on the bridge railing to better see the tiger, into that connecting section went his right shoe. Down, down into no man's land, behind an electric fence.
  The tears immediately began flowing, and Becky soon determined that she couldn't retrieve the shoe herself. After a few moments to calm Henry down, staff was contacted and a maintenance guy appeared. All was soon well, and Mom and Dad are happy to report that Henry thanked the man politely.
  Piper just calmly looked around at the green buds on the trees during the whole experience.
  Life inches along here, usually with subtle changes; Piper is rolling over, Henry is wrestling down the tricky teens, etc. Sometimes a few big things happen at once and you feel a big step forward. The weather is much warmer (high 40s ), Piper is much more stable, and Henry is all the more brave and confident when it comes to climbing around the playground.
  It all adds up with Piper happily in the backpack as I cart her around the playground and the bog. After a half an hour I can usually crane my neck to the side and see her pink windbreaker leaning forward, her snoozing head tucked down. She spends her time looking around quietly, bucking her legs into my back at any excitement, or snoozing away – all adding up to simple enjoyment for her.
  Henry tries endlessly to master climbing the wrong direction up a slide, only to be thwarted by his new, too smooth shoes. Piper takes it all in, only to wear herself out.