Simply ~ The Park

  It was a blustery cold day even in the sun and we decided we had been stuck inside long enough. The children headed out without a thought to their personages. I followed behind with the stroller laden with hats, gloves, a blanket, my camera, water and all the things I anticipate may just be needed on a walk such as this. The walk started out in sunshine and crisp wind but in the shade all three started to shiver from cold. I then gave them their gloves and talked to them in my most motherly fashion about why I had told them flip flops would not be acceptable and why I had sent them to their rooms for socks. They marvelled at my wisdom and laughed at how they would have just come in shorts and jackets. I tried to point out that when I ask them to do things I have reasons, always reasons, and they let those sounds waves slide around them but not in them. Their oldest sister was at home baking three pumpkin pies for a tea she was putting on for her grandmothers and some of their friends. She had already baked lemon squares and had cheese scone dough waiting for the morning. I wanted to be present. More present than I have been for a while. I wanted to be in the moment. So I was. The leaves were vibrant. The shrieks from children, in a yard backing onto the park, full of joy, and my children felt happy and free. It doesn't take much to bring contentment and joy ~ just time outside.

                    A tree in someone's back yard bordering the park. Magnificent

                                         The age old fence that I found beautiful

Practicing their baseball skills of which they have no clue about any real rules and just feel all powerful and amazing when they connect bat to ball and then they run from tree to tree.

When we arrive home cold and tired there is sister hard at work while siblings try to stay out of her way...but drive her crazy because they just can't. Her apron was made by her Oma who attended the tea...the oven mitts are compliments of Pioneer Woman :)

  Her culinary skills surpassed mine when she was about ten. She is almost thirteen now.

And at the end of a long day they truly fell asleep like this. In the mismatched bedding and blankets.  One pillow case from a wedding fourteen years ago and a blanket made by women on a loom from Yak wool somewhere in India.