My perspective right now is that most anything outside is a safe thing. While this is not exactly true, there is some risk involved in being too close even outside, it is a better measure of safety. So, when we gather, we gather outside. I think it has been good because the girls have been also venturing out more on their own. So often they hole up inside the house playing fun and imaginative things, but miss the opportunities outside. They have a better start to outside exploration this year.
A good place to jump head first into the out of doors experience is Luke and Steph’s house. They seem to always be outside – or maybe they are just outside when we come over. They have a decent size woods behind their house with some paths that meander through it along with a creek that provides for more fun. Their kids are all kinds of fun out there. They have built separate forts, created a mini zipline, tied down trees (and then got hit in the face with them… sorry, Lilli, I just didn’t want to forget that happened!), found clay to do art, and more. My girls tagalong and dip their toes into adventure there. We went out to say hi Sunday (17th). We walked their fair goats around the woods – actually the goats were off leash and followed us around better than Pepper would have! We checked out Lilli’s fort and raised garden bed she had made, the swing near her fort, and the mini zipline. Madison thought about trying it out, but the rope was a little to high for her liking this time.
The girls dug up some clay and fashioned tiny pots that are air drying in our garage. And the highlight…. learning to shoot a bow and arrow. Sam had made a bow and arrow out of sticks and reeds. It was pretty cool. The girls practiced quite awhile to get the arrow to fly. Sam made another bow they were allowed to bring home with them. They think it pretty cool to see the arrow fly!
Here at home, we have hung out a lot under the shade of the three trees in our backyard. There is almost always a good breeze that blows that makes it bearable, if not comfortable to just sit out there.
Jeremy was working on getting a garden started. The girls wanted to help. They also wanted to collect all the worms they found. I am glad that he does this gardening thing. In my head, I want to be the garden type to harvest and preserve my own food. But the reality is, it is not what I enjoy. It takes a lot of energy and it is not a place I go to burn off steam or feed my inner soul. But Jeremy does his best to make up for my conflicted self by planting and maintaining the garden. I am glad he is teaching our kids these things.
In second grade, they end the year with “camping week.” This year was no exception. So, to usher in the themed week, we pulled out the tent on Saturday night (23rd) to sleep out there. We ate a light supper of popcorn, cheese sticks, and s’mores.
It was a comfortable night temperature-wise. I think I am just not comfortable in a tent… even on an air mattress. I will do it if I have to, but since I was in my backyard, it didn’t feel like a have to. Ellie made it til about 3am when she woke up and heard all the June bugs flying around between the tent screen and the fly; they were loud and annoying, and she was a little worried they would make it inside the tent. She wanted to go in. I woke up Madison and in we went.
Sunday, they thought they wanted to sleep out again. I said I would not, but if they wanted to do it alone, they could. They did!! I couldn’t believe they would even start the night out there. I put them to bed and then sat outside and read for about 20 minutes while they fell asleep. They made it all night long! At 6am we heard them stumble in, awakened by the sun and the birds. Monday, they wanted to do it again! They almost made it that night – til 4am when Ellie decided she was a bit scared. They were going to try for a third night out there, but we had some people coming to work on the patio on Wednesday morning and didn’t want to have to clean it up early in the morning. So, they shipped their unhappy selves back in the house for sleeping.
They have found a good climbing tree in our neighbor’s yard. We have a ladder from an old play set, so we set it up against the tree trunk and now they can get up and down by themselves. It’s great.
This week the temperatures have skyrocketed to the upper 80s, and our bodies were not acclimated in the least. The girls got creative because we don’t own a pool. They played a lot on the swing set turning the circle swing into a surf board and working on their trapeze moves. They pulled out the sprinkler and swimsuits that need replaced for a new summer of fun.
Then, they upped their game by putting the baby pool at the base of the slide for a slip n slide type experience.
Then, the heat became unbearable and they just wanted to sit in a vat of water. They decided if they couldn't go to a pool, they needed some tubs to fill with water and sit in. Grandma Yoh to the rescue with one, and we found another one here. They discovered that hose water, even on a hot day, is pretty cold stuff! (Although Pepper didn’t seem to mind…)
On Wednesday, I told them they had to come to Seacrest Arboretum with me to walk the paths. It was hot. They didn’t want to. They did it anyway. (I called it a Mandatory Mom Moment and they didn’t have a choice!) It ended up being better than they expected. Madison took pictures for her 4-H nature scrapbook. Ellie, Pepper and I walked slowly giving her time. They remembered we had taken family pictures here a number of years ago and were looking for some of the photo spots. We really like this one.
While it looks like they are always getting along, they do have their moments. Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty rough days of discontent around here. They were creative about the water, but they (especially Ellie) wanted an actual pool. That made her pretty non-compliant with any other suggestions about things to do. This frustrated Madison who was willing to adapt. But Madison has got sucked into a new book series, and this irritates Ellie because then all Madison wants to do is sit and read. When you are tight, you’re tight. But when it’s not going right, it is hard to find ways to be with yourself.
I say, just stop, breathe and look at what God has given us to center yourself on Someone besides yourself.
