rhythms

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I don't like monotony. I'm not a fan of schedules. I detest the word routine. But I do like rhythms. And after a few sick days, then spring break, and yesterday was the broken wrist thing... I'm ready to have a regular pattern back please. Early morning exercise, mid-morning outings, lunch at home or in the park, afternoon quiet time, etc... I'm happy in my little rhythm.

All three girls went to school on time and as planned today. First time in 21 days. Ian and I had a major party complete with jumping on the bed and banana bread.

Whooo Hooo!  Hope you find your groove too!

Kites and crepes and stuff

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I left my camera battery charger on spring break. It's coming back to me in the mail shortly (thanks Dad). Good thing the trusty ol' iphone still works, otherwise you wouldn't see what a lovely weekend we had. ​

​Sun, and wind, and kites, and picnics, and climbing trees, and crepes, and showers, and blossoms, and soup, and steam. 

You know what they say... "it's all fun and games until your favorite 9 year old falls and breaks her wrist!" (It's not bad... but no swim team for a month!) Bummer. ​

scenes from spring break

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I took the kids over to Olympia this week. The change in scenery was refreshing.​ Salty air, trees!!, moss, shy visitors to my dad's yard, even the grey skies--  all so lovely.

Sometimes I resign myself to the thought that having four kids excludes me from adventure/exploration. I'm not going to lie, It's a big deal traveling alone with them. It requires patience, preparation, a ton of energy, and it never fail fails- someone always pukes. Often times I'm overwhelmed and tempted to not go.

But getting out of our routines and familiar surroundings seems to open up this magical little space of time where we ​grow. Exponentially. Together. We are on the same plane of awe, and wonder, and experience, and they teach me. Children require a pace that allows freedom to follow their wanderings. In turn, we discover the most amazing marmalade filled croissants at a waterfront coffee stand. We hover over a snail that we've never seen before, and watch it leave a trail of slime. We spend 15 minutes laughing at the way the drinking fountain squirts water in our faces... I would've missed all of it had they not shown me.

It's messy. At some point we will get lost. There is always crying.  Rest assured we will argue. ​And in the end, we are worn out. However, what we take home is a delight in new experience, and memories etched in laughter. ​

I love these kids. I love our adventures.​

“People seem to think you should stop living when you have children, you should settle and stay. But i could never. They’d be missing out on too much adventure. All of us can travel and experience together, making memories, photographs, stories… most people may want to live first and then have children, but for me, having children will be living.”
—  Nirrimi Firebrace