Regrouping

After two weeks of non-stop adventure we very effectively bridled the pace this week. We did a lot of reading, rediscovering toys, walking to the park, and reconnecting with friends. Nothing monumental. No great stories. Just a nice chance to regroup.

During that regrouping it finally dawned on me how close we are to our summer break. Even the Woodfords had better start making some firm plans with only three weeks until the end of the world as we know it. Somehow that really snuck up on me.

Yesterday we drove out to Valley Forge and went for a long run. Talk about a beautiful place to run! The trees have all leafed out. The grass is green. The air was clear and crisp. The birds were singing. We found the perfect place to fly a kite and have a picnic. Whoever comes to visit next, that is on the agenda.

I planted flowers in our window box yesterday. Well, I shouldn’t say I planted them. WE planted them. Josh was so nice to help me select the plants, replace the old yucky liner, and plant the new flowers; all of that thirty minutes before we had guests coming to the house, of course. Josh deserves as much credit as I do for the end result. We made a huge mess, but had a lot of fun. Dirt in your fingernails and a chance to make something beautiful are both good for your soul. For now, we have the prettiest window box on Meredith Street. (No one else has planted theirs yet.) Here is hoping it stays alive all summer.

Jane had a rough spell mid-week when she decided she didn’t like food anymore. Every meal I put in front of her met with the dreaded, “I don’t like it.” Everything but fruit was suddenly black listed. That girls can be super stubborn. We had a bit of a stand off. Now she is eating again. She was chowing down a turkey sandwich yesterday at Valley Forge and I said, “I’m glad our happy Jane is back.” She looked right up at me, reached her arm around to pat herself on the back and said, “Jane back happy.”

Kate bonked her head really hard while she was playing around this week. When the girls do that I always ask them simple questions amid the kisses and hugs just to make sure they are tracking right. I asked Kate what her name was and she replied, without hesitation, “Cinderella.” All worries set aside, we continued to play.

Today has been one of those days where everything you try to do turns to mush--a good reminder of how easy it could be to find yourself waiting for the bridegroom without enough oil to get you through the night. The only solution I see just now is to take a nap and try again tomorrow and that is precisely what I am going to do.