Friday Moments

Friday Moments as usual with Soule Mama again today.

If you have a moment or two to share, please leave a comment with a link!

I thought I'd finish up the week with a few (final) moments from Block Island.

Good, good stuff.

Have a great weekend.

The long view

Happy Thursday, guys.

One more day till Friday. Wahoo.

Lately, I've been spending some time with a friend whose children are just a bit older than mine. 6 and 8 rather than 2 and 3.

She ate dinner with us last night and commented that she missed this age.

I nearly fell off my chair.

At this point the Wee One was running around the dining room panting like a dog and the Big Boy was peppering her with questions in between every bite she tried to take.

Missed this? 


The more we talk, the more I am reminded that often only through the lens of hindsight do I realize the truth of a situation.

This time, though exhausting and frustrating, is fleeting.

And I will miss it.

Thank you, dear friend, for the gift of your point of view.

I won't be able to cherish every moment of every day, but if I can cherish even just a few moments here and there - what a gift.

Life Lessons - Island Style

I'm fairly certain that Block Island may exist in some sort of dimensional worm hole.

While I was there, life truths seemed simple and understandable.

There is a small, historical cemetery behind the property and I while I explored I was surprised to see that people had lived well into their 70s and 80s during the 1800s.

When I mentioned this unusually long lifespan to my beloved friend he attributed the longevity to, "Island life" and I think he may be right.

Block Island Life Lessons:

Pig piles are hilarious. (That's me on the bottom)

Always hold hands.
(Do you see the Big Boy holding hands with Big Sister??)

There is nothing in the world so important as good friends. 

Babies are so cute.
Especially other people's babies.
And all babies need more kisses. 

Zerberts are hilarious. 

Fathers are remarkable creatures. 

I'm going to try to hold on to my island lessons, but already they are slipping away.

Lost under a tide of laundry and obligations.

It was something about simplicity. And laughter.

Guess I'll just have to go back to be sure I am remembering correctly.

Block Island Part Deux

Oh Block Island.

Even looking through the pictures makes me happy.

What did the children think?

Endless grass for running. 

Or lounging. 

Long paths for exploring.
That little speck is the Big Boy. 

Even the Wee One dared to stray from Mom and Dad.
At least a little. 

Ham bone. 

They loved it.

And we loved watching them love it.

Hours spent blissfully running, rolling and laughing in the grass. I swear - the very earth that Block Island is made of is different.

None of us escaped its' relaxing, peaceful influence.

And these aren't even the pictures from the beach. 

Bliss

Oh Gang, I don't even know where to begin.

We had the most amazing weekend, ever. 


We went to Block Island with some dearly beloved friends.

We stayed at the Amazon Littlefield House which happens to belong to a member of dearly beloved friends' family.

Yeah, I know. Epic. 

Sigh.

Guys.

Seriously.

Unreal.

The house. The property.

Over 100 years old, and lovingly, creatively, authentically restored and maintained.

I've never been anywhere like it.

A peace settled in my soul. It was so quiet. The house and the land seemed to seep into my bones, quietly suggesting, "Sit. Nap. Laugh. Stop and absorb the unbelievable beauty and peace."

Okay, that's enough for today.

Tomorrow perhaps we'll discuss what the kids thought of the place.

Thursday

It's 5:45am and Hubs whispers,
"Wake up, Babe."
I grumble and thrash around a bit.
"Shh!" he says, "The Big Boy has already been up once and I hear the baby crashing around in his crib."
"What?" I say, too loudly, confused and disoriented. Then the enormity of what he has just said sinks in and I freeze, like a rabbit in the sights of a lion. (Lions don't eat rabbits, do they? Well, whatever - you catch my drift.)

Both children.

Awake.

Before 6am.

I throw on fleece pants and a fleece sweatshirt (news like that requires some major comforting) and I tiptoe downstairs.

Priority 1: coffee.

The Big Boy exits his room (for the second time) at 6:03 and presents himself in the kitchen.

Breathe.

The 30-60 minutes I steal prior to the waking of the children is important to me. I am centered and ready to face the day.

Today, I am not ready but the day has found me.

I try to let go. Focus on meeting his needs, as that is my job.  I try, repeatedly, to push all my other to-do's to the back of my mind where they crash around, crying out frustratedly for my attention.

Breathe. Let go.

Moment by moment.

Bedtime

At bedtime at our house Hubs and I divide and conquer. Due to my work schedule most nights I take the Big Boy and Hubs gets the Wee One. 

I gotta admit, by the end of the day, I'm tired and I just want to crash on the couch, but the BB and I have such a sweet routine that I find myself soothed and relaxed - just as much as he is.

 

First there is the analytical assessment and selection of books.

Then the books are lined up, in the order in which they are to be read.

Next we climb into bed, via the desk of course.

Then mon capitan reiterates the plan of attack.

Finally, we get down to the reading.

Eventually, relaxation sets in.

After books, comes cuddling. Which often transitions into hiding-under-a-pillow-and-pretending-we-are-trapped-in-a-cave.

"Come on Mumma we got to find a way out of dis cave!"

Finally, we dismount the bed, via the desk of course.

And my love has to turn off the light himself.

And that's how this BB says "Goodnight!".