Light

When we moved here we didn't have any living room furniture.  We added a couch and a chair, an entertainment center for the TV and a table for the littles to use.  No ends or coffee table.  So no lamps.  I didn't want any floor lamps that they could tip over.
Fast forward to now and I bought a lamp off facebook for $15.  Moved the end table Dave had refinished for me last year by the couch.  Set the lamp on it and viola.....light.  And the total ambiance of the room changed.  More homey.  Amazing that.  Love it.

Back to Hantwick

We haven't walked the trail at Hantwick Trailhead since 2012.  I thought it was time to do it again.  We walk a mile down and a mile back and it takes a long time with little legs.  We did this trail many times with Papa and a stroller.  I'm slowly getting used to all these things we used to do and now do differently.
It was lovely walking in the shade of the big firs and oaks.  We chased butterflies and dragonflies.  They loved the pond and the big rocks around the picnic area.  We were fascinated with the moss and the baby fir cones.  They loved being able to take their own pictures.  The one of Audrie and me is taken by Connor.  He didn't do too bad.  Experimenting with another creative outlet.
And like my post from the other day....they both fell asleep in the car exhausted from a two mile nature walk.

Lucky Children

I've gotten several comments about how lucky my children are that I do so many things with them. I do and they are.  We have a lot of down time also, I just don't make big deals about that.  I take a lot of pictures and share with my friends so it looks like a lot.  Sometimes small activities gives us the most pictures.
I think we do the things we do because we can first.  There is just the three of us.  We don't have to plan our outings around any one's schedule but mine.
Second I have found that keeping them busy is a good thing.  It engages their minds and their bodies.  They get to stretch their muscles and grow.  They get to think, think, think.  It always amazes me when I introduce something new and it is small how much it can wear them out and it has to be brain work that is doing it.  An example is a nature walk makes them more tired than an hour on a playground.
My little man and little woman are very busy children.  Not actually hyperactive, but very busy.  And keeping them busy makes them easier.  So that is a good third reason for our activities.
I'm always looking for new things to do and to introduce them to.  I try to get a variety and not just things I am interested in.  That is hard.  I think we do okay though.  And soon we bring sports into the mix and that is definitely not my forte.

The Newspaper

Jodi texted  me this morning to call her.  So I did.  She said Audrie was in the paper.  Sure enough her picture was in the paper this morning.  You can see it here.  You may have to scroll through a couple of pictures first.  In the print version she is the only picture to the hot weather article.  I saw the guy taking the first pictures and thought those were his kids or grandkids.  There were many of us taking pictures at the fountain on Saturday.

A Busy Park Day

On this hottest day of the week and the weekend we headed down town to the Farmer's Market.  Played at the playground.  Then we looked at some recycled art. The recycled arts festival has grown and with that came higher prices and some super cool stuff.  Made me think of the last time we explored this.....Audrie was in a stroller and we were with David and Papa.  Lots of changes since then.
After that the littles played in the fountain for an hour and a half.  What a great way to keep cool.  We had loaded up on sunscreen before we left home so it was all good.
On the way out we purchased some cherries, strawberries and peaches.  A good fruit week.  And strawberry shortcake tonight.  I thought I had missed having that since I missed our local berries.

Working On It

Patience.  Persistence.  Playing.
I notice some of the interactions between some of the parents and children in our complex.  They, the parents, seem so much more patient than I am.  And I love how they play with their kids.  I love how they play with my kids.  I love to hear the laughter, the giggles, the love.
And so I am learning through example to do what I can.  I don't have the limberness, balance or stamina to do a lot of what they do.  But I'm working on doing what I can.
I discovered that the littles love when I stupid dance to some of the music on TV.  They giggle and giggle and tell me I'm funny.  And I say "Yes, yes I am funny." And I think it is good for them to see it and experience it.
Trying to do both worlds is hard.  I never get to be the spoiling grandparent.  I always have to be the parent.  And it makes this dynamic different than any other one I have had before.  Learning as we go.  Working on it every day.

Grazing

We heard there were some more raspberries at Papa's house. So we went and checked it out.  Sure enough there were quite a few and this is after two pickings.  So we found a bag and picked a bunch more.  The littles grazed while I picked. Nothing beats berries right off the vines. When I add them to the ones we got from Marti I think I have enough for a batch of jam.
The blueberries are just coming ripe and the marionberries are loaded.
I'm thinking cobbler soon.