There are a lot of normal days around here, but so much cool stuff happens during those normal days.
The kids got a bunch of “bendy” straws and masking tape and made stuff. Tyler was very proud of his “trident”. He also took a coffee cup sleeve, taped some straws to it and made some kind of claw thing. Then I got out a cardboard box and Quinn and Tyler made the place quite cozy. I love looking back at these pictures when it is night and the house is quiet. With nothing else to distract me, I am able to fully appreciate their play and creativity.
Later on the kids put on Daddy’s shirts and had quite a good time swinging in them.
Later on that day we had crafts. We made Thanksgiving candles. This one is mine. Our fall nature table looking quite cheerful with the addition of some lovely flowers from a friend And finally, Tyler found my camera and took some pics of Quinn hiding behind her bank.
Some days I get so busy, I forget about all the magic and small moments. I am trying to change that. After all, that is one big reason I stay home.
To create harmony, I gave Quinn my camera. I have done this before and they have shot pictures, but this is the first time that she has literally held down the button to take a picture. We came home with 180 shots. In fact, when placed quickly you could see the road going by, the cars…it was funny. So I did just that. Created a quick movie. It is uneventful, not very exciting – just what a drive home should be.
The opening slide says, “The ride home from Bastrop – from Quinn’s viewpoint”. Enjoy!
The weekend after our Renewal, we headed to Bastrop for a little bit of nature. We tend to always do our favorite hikes which the kids sometime tire of. The kids were not in the best mood this day and were getting pooped when we reached the turnaround point. Nevertheless, it was a good to be out there with the pine trees. I enjoyed documenting it with my camera. There is something about collecting the moments, the sights that I cannot resist. In fact, I am often cranky when my camera is forgotten on an adventure – almost as if the moment will be quickly forgotten or didn’t happen if I don’t get a picture of it.
I loved my shots from this day and so am posting many of them. I love our hikes so very much. I really do.
On October 16th of this year, Chris and I renewed our vows. I don’t have many pictures from that night, but that is okay by me because the one below is the only one that really matters.
Who knew that after this event, life would spiral downward for both of us landing with a big thunk in December? But I am glad we did this. That we paused to recommit to this partnership right before the shit hit the fan. We are in this for the long haul. This is our life for better or worse. And we are fighting and working hard for it. We believe in each other and in us.
Our marriage is not perfect. I think we got really lucky. The parts that worked seemed to override the ones that didn’t. As we matured, other parts improved. And as we are dealing with the crap of life, we need to lean on each other more than ever. This vulnerability on both sides has allowed us to begin to tackle some of the longstanding issues that trip us up.
It is not important that we get it perfect, but that we continue learning, gaining a deeper understanding of and showing greater compassion for each other.
Who knew that at the ripe age of 20, this boy who I wished was my boyfriend, would become that and so much more.
My Mom came over to our house the Friday before our big renewal party. I forget how things started but Quinn decided Grandma needed to put her bedspread over here and next thin you know a pillow fight broke out. Later, I was instructed to hide with Grandma. Quinn would check on us and be our lookout to tell us Tyler was about to get us with a pillow.
Later, when everyone was finally pooped, the kids snuggled with Grandma as she read them some books. They love it when Grandma comes to play – she ususally means to only stay an hour, but ends up hanging out for the afternoon!
Ah, this amazing fall weather. This past weekend was a really awesome weekend. I had an amazing dinner at Eastside Showroom with good friends Friday night, had a great date with my hubby Saturday night and then helped give a Blessingway for a Mama in the same circle of friends I saw Friday.
It was great, but I was pooped by Sunday afternoon. The weather was incredible though and we needed to do something. The idea of a bike ride had been floated, but I didn’t have the energy for that. Instead we had an early-ish dinner and headed down to Town Lake for a walk.
Oh my it was so wonderful! That gorgeous sunset over the lake. All the people out running. The clouds. The lake was so very still that evening that I could get all these reflection shots. There was even this guy in a skiff-like sailboat. It was heaven.
I told Chris on the way home that I was so blissfully happy. I realize more and more that we can so easily just go through the daily motions of life and not really be living. I think sometimes in having kids we just surrendered. There are always reasons why we can’t or shouldn’t do something. But the days we make a decision to do something fun, to go out into the world, I can see just how good we both feel. And so I plan to find more ways to make this happen – for both of us. Otherwise life just seems to dreary – all about surviving to the next weekend. And that is no way to live. And is certainly not what I want to model for my kids.
I love sunsets so much.
Under the bridge
Be still my heart
The kids were inspired by the runners
A quiet, still lake and awesome reflection
I want to go sit on that branch
A boy admiring downtown
I loved this dude’s boat right down to the small light at the top
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