Last week my two youngest girls stayed home from school on Thursday just because I needed a little extra snuggles and love with my little girls. A little extra time to watch them, hang out with them, giggle and have a day to move at their pace, where the process of deciding on the proper gardening hat took precedence over their five minutes of gardening.
I realized on that day that I am SO ready for summer. I love the days filled with sleeping in late, no agendas, lots of bare feet in the grass, impromptu play dates, bike rides, walks to the park, fun filled pool days, and the basic freedom that we have no where to go at any particular time. Our little girl day was a mini slice of summer.
We stood outside the back door saying good bye to our neighbor and toddler friend and I thought, now what should we do? So far I had not been ready to embrace spring. But with my little energy balls by my side, staring at prepping our Backdoor Garden I was inspired to take a stab at it.
“How about some gardening?” I asked. The response was the perfect little squeals of “Okaaaaaayy!”
Many tools were gathered, little hands tried to work big tools, someone had to go potty, someone tried to go in the grass but peed on their shorts, then we went inside to find new shorts and she also found a beach hat that was for 12-24 months heads which she insisted on wearing. Girl number two liked that idea ant went into fetch a beach hat from the summer bin waiting to be sorted through in the basement.
Someone was working hard (for a short time) and the other just wanted to have her picture taken. About five minutes later they got tired and decided to rest under a tree. Then they pretending to sleep, wrestling around together giggling.
“Mom, it was a good idea for Lydia to stay home with me today,” said my middle girl. At first she wanted her own day. I wanted them both. That was nice to hear.
Next they wanted to have a picnic under the Magnolia tree in the front yard.
And requested a walk to the park, which resulted in wading in the muddy Tennessee water. I wouldn’t put my feet in it. But then again maybe I should. They made it look like fun. Carefree. We should all be a little more carefree sometimes.
