:the one where we enjoy good old honest play:

the clouds roll in and hang heavy, as if the sky could drop them at any minute. the sun begs to break through but cannot. there's a chill in the air, not felt before now. i dig out warm coats, hats and gloves. remembering how much i love a nice cozy scarf and the coat gifted from that man that knows me so well.

he has an unexpected day off so we decide to go to the park. instant FAMILY DAY! he starts dressing the children while i grab a shower. there are lunches and diaper bags to pack, water cups to fill and entertainment for the drive. leaving the house is no easy ordeal with three little ones.

yet we made it out the door and headed to the park in a nearby city. after about three hundred and fifty thousand are-we-there-yets? we arrived. they delighted in an old steam engine they could play in and a tiny mechanism that acted as a bull dozer of sorts. the swings were a hit, especially with daddy flying high beside them scaring me with talk of flipping off backwards. heaven help.

they giggled and ran and refused to stop for the pictures i wanted to take. who can blame them, there is fun to be had and photographs are just an interference to the beauty found in good old honest play.

jacob is good at playing and i am learning from him.

consumed far too often by the list of to-do's i miss moments, opportunities, memories for the keeping. reading this today on sarah bessey's blog puts things in perspective...

"cleaning and scrubbing can wait til tomorrow for babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow. so quiet down cobwebs. dust, go to sleep. i'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep."

babies don't keep, but memories do, so lets make lots of them today. amen?

::quiet is a good thing::

it has been quiet around here lately!
i've been enjoying every free minute with those precious kiddos!
gardening.
pool time.
painting.
reading.
trucks...big trucks....fire trucks for the boy.
dress up.
camping.
movies.
and lots and lots of snuggles.

what have you been up to this summer?

::the art of play::

"you can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation"

-plato

yesterday the little one and i spent some time playing and it was heaven!

we held hands and giggled.

we found a birds nest and climbed a tree.

we picked flowers....weeds really....but flowers to her!

she rode her scooter while sporting daddy's sunglasses.

and as neighbors passed by she would yell out:

 "hey! my name is eisley and i'm riding my scooter!" 

i took pictures.

we drew with sidwalk chalk and we watched the sunset.

we played.

and it was just what i needed.

have you played today?



::the one where we were not afraid of snakes::

::photo::

we navigated the woods like survivor man.
snakes? psht. spiders? whatever.
no fear.
only wander and enjoyment.
trees to climb.
clubhouses to build.
creeks to explore. mud between toes.

we hopped rock to bankside using trees as balance beams across the water.
we walked from dawn to dusk with no cell phones or survival packs.
we carried only our imagination and our mothers' voice to call us home.

we picked strawberries from their garden.
sneaking bites behind their mothers' back.
smoothies...fresh fruit, ice, milk and sugar. oh for the love of yum!

we jumped on the bed. the big fluffy feather bed - high and loud - until he came.
their dad. unhappy with our adventure and ruckus during his nap (he worked nights).
i went home early that day.

checkerboard countertops.
apple trees.
bicycle rides down the hill with one on the handlebars. that is until bike met hole. tire bent....hidden for years without discovery in the barn.

sweetness lies in those memories.
memories of play.
wide open play.
this was my childhood.

tell me about yours?

::i'm in...all in::

some days i come home from work and i. am. pooped.
i am greeted by two very excited kiddos!
they jump up and down and yell "mommmmmy!" and give hugs and kisses endlessly...most days.
i'm tired.
they are not.
i want to sit.
they do not.
i want quiet.
they do not.
and that's okay. i suck it up and jump in to play time.
it's moments like this that make it all worth while.
just 15 minutes on the trampoline is heaven to my little ones.
just a little fun before bed is all they ask.
look at that magic.
what i would have missed if i had chosen to rest. sit. and be quiet.
no-way-jose. i'm in. all in.

{{what a walk will do}}

today i am thankful for the pitter patter of tiny little feet.

the giggles that bellow and bounce against the trees.

the cheerfulness in their hearts.

hand-holding and picture taking.

the joy of throwing rocks in the water.

the running...oh the running...so fun!

eating outside.

and of course a day wouldn't be complete without lots of hugs and kisses.

it all makes for a lovely family day that i will forever treasure.

what did you do this weekend?