Grace in small things: First day of preschool edition (August 30, 2016)
- Luke told me I could have one--just one--going back to school picture this morning. Zo, on the other hand, hammed it up for me. Luke had some fear this morning, you can see it on his face. "I don't want to be away from you, Mommy," he said. I didn't want to be away from him either, but off to preschool they went, just 2 1/2 hours 2 days a week is what they'll go, and they had a lovely time. The house was deathly quiet with them gone...it was so strange. I was sorting through boxes of old photos and letters while they were gone today too and it's been such a strange day...how time and life passes hugely magnified...
- There's a John Denver song that I sing the kids sometimes, "Matthew," and the start of the chorus is, "Joy was just the thing that he was raised on." "Mommy," Luke said, "Am I being raised on joy?" "Yes," I said. "And what else?" he said. "I pick up garbage on the side of the road wherever we go, so maybe I am being raised on joy and garbage." And then Zo chimed in with a hug for me: "I'm being raised on joy and flowers!"
- Speaking of flowers, Zo picking me a little bouquet from the weeds on the side of the road today...she does that a lot...so sweet...
- Jeff bringing home dinner...thank you, Jeff...
- Kids using the word "apparently" all of a sudden, eg Luke: "Apparently, if you use the brakes on your bike, you stop." (He has been using his hands to brake lately, which is awesome.) Or: "Apparently, if you leave the blinds open, you can see the stars." Adorable.
Good day.
XOXO
Fun with kids: August 2016
Some things we're looking forward to doing as summer winds down:
Individual kid trips
Papa and Grammy have graciously offered to host our kids individually 2 nights each—a first for us, and at 4 years old it seems like a good time to do it. They are beyond excited. Zo gets to go first, this Thursday, then we'll swap kids Saturday and then I'll be going down for a week-long visit with both kids starting Monday...can't wait...
Orange creamsicles
I want to try this recipe...in our dino and monster pop molds
Camp out on the porch and watch the meteor shower
The Perseid meteor shower is back the night of August 11–12...I'll have just Luke (see above) and am thinking of making a cozy sleeping area out on the porch and watching...
Backroads exploring with a picnic
So many places to go around Steamboat...we'll be doing this more than once...
Float the river
I don't think the kids are old enough to float yet, but my husband and I could go...this is something we haven't done yet...
Go to an outdoor concert
It seems like wherever you are this is an option...a nice thing to do on a warm summer night...we're going to see Fantastic Mr. Fox...
Lay under a tree with a book
I think we're going to head to the Botanic Gardens for this (pictured above)
Hike to the top of something
Maybe Emerald Mountain, that we see from our house? Or maybe in Junction my parents and I will do this...
Make gazpacho
I'm going to try this recipe
Go school shopping
I have such great memories of doing this with my Mom, one of the few times during my childhood that I remember being alone with her. We'd go to the big city (Denver) and spend the whole day finding just the right clothes and supplies for school, eating lunch, talking about things that mattered. I'm going to spend a few hours individually with each kid while we're in Junction doing the same...
Pick a big wildflower bouquet
I've got my eye on some purple flowers that I've seen when we're out Jeeping...
Hope you enjoy August as much as we're planning to! XOXO