Girls Night

The weather has been nothing short of perfect this summer. Today was no exception: hot, but just the right amount of humidity, and the slightest hint of a breeze. Brent and I had planned to go to the Redhawks game together tonight, but long story short, I ended up spending some quality time with our peanut while he went with his man crush friend. (We love you, Charlie.) As much as I would have loved to snuggle under the sky with my hubs, tonight ended up being an enjoyable and memorable night for just us girls.

After I got home from work, Haley and I had a little snack of cereal before snuggling on the sofa to read a book. We tried skyping with my family, but no one seemed to be available. After having tickle wars, a dance-off, and a game of tag around the living room, (and after some dinner so mommy could catch her breath) she asked if we could go for a walk.

It's no secret I have the cutest daughter in the universe. I'm not being biased either, just stating the facts. On tonight's walk, she was earning that passage for sure.

"Mommy! A baby bird!"
"Oh he is tiny, isn't he? But he's just a little bird, not really a baby bird."
"Excuse me bird! I have a question!"
"You have a question for the bird?"
"Yeah. Excuse me bird! I have a question!"
"What's your question for the bird?"
"Ummmm....we go driving in the van."
"Oh. That's your question?"
"Oh no! He fly away, mommy! In the sky!"

Seriously. So cute.

"Can we cross the street?"
"We have to look both way for cars, remember? Do you see any cars coming?"
"Yeah."
"Where?"
"There are no cars, mommy."
"Well then why did you....okay. Let's cross the street."
"Okay! Yay! Let's be careful!"

We meandered back to the house where we sat outside in the shade and played with rocks for a little bit, until I eyed some mosquitoes looking for their dinner. We came inside, changed her in to her pj's, read more books, sang some songs, gave hugs and kisses, and said bedtime prayers.

"Mommy?"
"Yes, baby?"
"I need to listen."
"That's right. We asked Jesus to help you be a good listener, didn't we?"
"Yah, and I LISTEN!"

If she doesn't just melt this mommy's heart...

Outdoorsy

The summers in Fargo make the winters here almost worth it. The temperatures are warm and cozy - like a comfortable hug from a lifelong friend. The sun, the breeze, and the shade mostly work together to form an ambiance of pure pleasantry. The inside of my home is somewhat neglected, as I relish to spend every available moment outside. My camp chair has conformed itself to the curves of my duff, and we sit together to enjoy the day's beauty and contentment.

The breeze is my favorite summertime friend. It blows just enough to keep the flying critters away (read: man-eating dragonflies and other terrorizing winged insects), and just enough to keep the heat in check. If I had the leisure to sit outside in the summer all day every day, it would be an opportunity I would certainly take advantage of. Watching a rainstorm from the shelter of the garage would be no hindrance.

Haley, now a very active toddler, loves to play outside with sticks, rocks, and most affectionately with the dirt. She and I marvel at the birds, dance away from bugs, and together sit and wonder about the clouds as they pass overhead. "Blue and white, mommy! The sky blue and white!" I think the clouds are just as happy to be floating above us as we are to watch them. My little nature loving toddler is a girl after my own heart.

There are no mountains, and there are no pristine blue bodies of water nearby, but the atmosphere of the outdoors is appreciated regardless. Freedom to run, jump, roll, or simply sit. I'll take it. No boundaries at all - just acres and acres of outdoors.

As the leaves rustle and applaud for how happy they are to have our company, I sometimes just close my eyes and say quick little prayers of thanks. Thanks for His creation, and taking time to plan out the smallest of details. Thanks for all the senses to be able to enjoy it. And thanks for the opportunity to experience it, even if only for a season.

Why I Love Saturdays

We've been guilty of using the weekend to try to cram everything we "need" to get done into two days' time, wear ourselves ragged, and wonder on Sunday evenings where our weekend went. We still have a long to-do list, but rather than try to become super-humans and accomplish more in 48 hours than anybody else, we've taken a step back.

Saturdays are my absolute favorite day of the week. It starts by Brent and I being woken up by the sweet mumbles over the monitor from Haley. Usually it's, "I want mommy." which I'm happy, though tired, to oblige. When I take her out of her crib, she almost immediately starts her demands for breakfast, though I try to sneak a few more snuggles. She and I make our way to the kitchen, I start brewing my coffee, and get her situated with her "yoyurt". We end up eating some breakfast together, and I start to savor my first coffee for the day.

She'll entertain herself with her toys while Brent gets a while longer to snooze, and she and I will tell funny stories or build or color. Usually I sip my coffee and she makes me something "delisish" in her own kitchen that I have to sample. When Brent gets up, we watch an episode or two of Dinosaur Train, which is somehow her most favorite thing to watch. What am I doing in a Pteranodon nest?

We'll play outside, tidy the house, have lunch, and then it's nap time. I, for some reason, am never tired the same time she naps. So I use this time to do what I want to do. When she's awake and refreshed, we play some more, and then 5:00 comes. Today we spent all afternoon outside working on pulling weeds and trimming shrubbery. She wore Mommy's gloves and played in the dirt, so had to have an emergency bath time upon reentry of the house.

Every Saturday at 5:00 we turn on the radio and listen to Prairie Home Companion. It's on while I cook us dinner, and we listen to it until it ends. It really is entertaining, and if you've never done it, I would certainly recommend you start. Once it's over, we start to wind down, get Haley into her PJs, brush her teeth, say bedtime prayers, and sing some songs together. Lately, her most favorite song in the entire world is Happy Birthday. So we sing that multiple times.

Once she's tucked in, we come out and do whatever else we need to do to wrap up our day so we can spend the evening anyway we want to. We might clean out the basement, or I might knit, or we might play some two-handed pinochle. It doesn't matter, I love this tradition. I love Saturdays. I love my morning snuggles, my evening singalongs, and everything in between. If my week has to end, I want to enjoy how it comes to a close. I love Saturdays.