In the car this morning Ginger and I were on our way, still wearing pajamas, to get our traditional weekly 'Special Breakfast'.
From the backseat she was making these beautiful faces at me in the mirror, sunlight and shadow racing across her pale skin and intense eyes.
"Mom? Is that 'East'?", she asked while throwing a thumb over her right shoulder.
"Yes", came my slow reply(surprised at her accuracy).
"I got hit yesterday in the East eye."
She continued matter-of-factly, " That hurt. That hurt on the Eastside."
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
I asked my brain to take a picture.
Yesterday I had all four kids in the front yard, playing ball and making chalk drawings and exploring boundaries.
All of them would be roaming the yard, engrossed in independent play, when one of them would bellow an announcement of discovery. Next, three sets of hands would drop what they were doing and race across the yard on feet made light by curiosity.
One such moment:
Will galumping across the grass, tennis racket in hand, eyes on the sky, occasionally tripping.
Isaac standing perfectly still, red plastic baseball bat in hand, staring me down for a squishy lime green ball pitch that we both know is very likely to land in his face..and almost certainly nowhere near the swinging bat.
Ginger on her knees with dirt under her nails, meticulously digging delicate white blossoms from the ground by the roots(collecting them for the wedding..against all odds).
Willow emerges from the trees lining our yard and bellows in disbelief,"There's a STREAM between our yard and the NEIGHBORS!"
Thus began the caravan through the tangled branches. Willow followed by Isaac followed by Will followed by me..unknowingly followed close behind by Ginger.
Before I could prevent it, a small branch swung back and struck her face. She cried and while I held her each brother and sister came to check on the stricken eye and express their concern.
After a few minutes all was well at the Big Blue House. As evening set in, not only did we manage to play outdoors with *no* fighting(?), but each and every child was *willingly* bathed and PJ'd(!) before Daniel got home. Such moments of ease are there to sustain parents for the long stretches between when all their best ideas are tested and rejected in the face of youthful defiance or sibling discord. Last night's decadence gave me the chance to pause in the middle of a very busy week, a very busy life, and really enjoy the kids I've been blessed to love.
All of them would be roaming the yard, engrossed in independent play, when one of them would bellow an announcement of discovery. Next, three sets of hands would drop what they were doing and race across the yard on feet made light by curiosity.
One such moment:
Will galumping across the grass, tennis racket in hand, eyes on the sky, occasionally tripping.
Isaac standing perfectly still, red plastic baseball bat in hand, staring me down for a squishy lime green ball pitch that we both know is very likely to land in his face..and almost certainly nowhere near the swinging bat.
Ginger on her knees with dirt under her nails, meticulously digging delicate white blossoms from the ground by the roots(collecting them for the wedding..against all odds).
Willow emerges from the trees lining our yard and bellows in disbelief,"There's a STREAM between our yard and the NEIGHBORS!"
Thus began the caravan through the tangled branches. Willow followed by Isaac followed by Will followed by me..unknowingly followed close behind by Ginger.
Before I could prevent it, a small branch swung back and struck her face. She cried and while I held her each brother and sister came to check on the stricken eye and express their concern.
After a few minutes all was well at the Big Blue House. As evening set in, not only did we manage to play outdoors with *no* fighting(?), but each and every child was *willingly* bathed and PJ'd(!) before Daniel got home. Such moments of ease are there to sustain parents for the long stretches between when all their best ideas are tested and rejected in the face of youthful defiance or sibling discord. Last night's decadence gave me the chance to pause in the middle of a very busy week, a very busy life, and really enjoy the kids I've been blessed to love.
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