Seeking the shade

A few days ago all three of the kids were restless and a little too much to handle so what better way to get their wiggles out and keep my sanity than taking them to the farm. I was also trying to take advantage of the last warm days we have left so off we went to Thanksgiving Point. Ethan and Heidi fed the chickens, sheep, goats and some ducks. They admired the other farm animals and all of us got on a horse pulled wagon and had a ride around the farm. I must admit that the rocking motion was relaxing enough that I was ready for a nap right there and then. On our way out we bought some ice-cream. We were sitting near our car by some grapevines when Suddenly Ethan was gone, I then noticed he was squatting under the grape vines so puzzled at the sight of it that I had to ask him why he was there. His reply was very straight forward, “I am in the shade so that my ice-cream doesn’t melt”. I managed to capture some pictures of Ethan enjoying his ice-cream.

Peaches and Maaaaaaaam

After the storm comes the calm, right? Well, for me it is, after the rain come the harvest. After a heavy rain our patio and backyard were soaked. I went to our backyard to check our small peach tree, which after three years has finally given us some fruit, a great total of eight peaches. In the spirit of celebrating the Fall I decided it was time for that peach tree to sweeten our souls. I wanted to take a bite out of one of those plump, delicious, juicy, sweet peaches. Yum! There is nothing sweeter than savoring the fruits of your labors. The sweetness in my soul lasted all of two bites; the peach disappeared from my hands and ended up in the mouth of each and every other member of this family.
Sunday was one of those days in which diaper changing and drool clean up twisted my stomach more than once. By the late afternoon a pile of plates adorned our sink, breadcrumbs and who knows what else filled our kitchen floor. As I stared at the mess it was as if all of it was crying out in a loud voice: Here we are waiting for you! Luckily, it is on days like this that glimpses and rays of joy come unexpectedly. Gavin, who is already walking fast and furiously (to my great horror) throughout the house at the early age of 10 months; came walking with his arms extended towards me taking short, fast, clumsy steps and with a great smile (typical of him) saying loudly maaaaaaaam. Well my heart melted and a huge smile got stamped on my face. His first word was the energy I needed to re-charge my batteries and to remind me that EVERYTHING (yes, even unpleasant diapers) are worth it and I would not change this life for anything in the world.

Great Adventure!

I have not lived my greatest adventures in the countries I have visited nor in the places I have seen. Although my adventurous spirit has taken me clear to the other side of the world and have seen amazing and breathtaking places, experienced different cultures and tasted some not very tasty treats, the most intense adventures I have lived and are actually ongoing, do not take place in exotic islands worthy of post card pictures. Nope, the adventures I have chosen to live are what some define as the mundane without any glamour. I still don't understand how anyone would view the place of my adventures in such a boring way, but the greatest adventures of my life take place in a site unknown to many, a place that could be said has been carved by my own hands. A place where among other things, I am the actual thermostat; a place where I have dominion, but not total control. I don't have to travel to get to this place. This place filled with unexpected adventures is ............. My Home. Yes, my home provides the sort of adventures and tales that even Indiana Jones would envy. No way! How could that be? Well, it all starts the moment I wake up each and every morning. All credit of course goes to the main characters in my daily adventures. No matter what I have planned for the day (I always have lists of places to go, things to do, people to see)it can all be altered in a matter of minutes by each and every one of the following characters:

Ethan- 5 years old, kindergartener, harasses Heidi and Gavin all day long and asks WHY IS....everything.

Heidi- 2 and a half years old and oficially the pink princess. To Heidi, life is pink as if she were looking at it through rose color glasses and since optimism is the key to a long life she will probably reach 100.

Gavin- 10 months old. The smiley one. So excited to be walking that the sheer excitement of it wears him out.