Picked flowers from our garden
When we first moved to South Carolina it was hot. Very hot. One of our first memories is of Ceily proclaiming: "It's blazin' hot out there! I'm not playing outside!" Add mosquitoes and gnats and "no-see-ums" to the mix, and it's not much fun. At all.
I remember moving into the neighborhood and thinking I had purchased a home in a ghost town. NO ONE was ever outside during the day. Not. A. Soul. But, when the clock hit 5:30 or 6:00, the doors started cracking open and people, shielding their eyes from the blinding sun, starting placing their flip-flopped feet on the hot, hot pavement, and emerging from their cooled shelters. Slowly, the spring to their step would resurface and the children would start to run and play and laugh. Bikes and walking families would pass by. The bugs were still there, obvious by the eternal swatting of the legs as passers by would file past, but they would wave, smile and continue on, enjoying the setting sun and the cooling temperatures. Don't get me wrong. It was still WAY HOT, sometimes even blazin' hot. It was just a bit more bearable.
The changing seasons down here aren't four in number. It's either hot or cold. Not much in between. Winter and fall are the same. Spring and Summer. The same. But, the last two or three Springs have been so pleasant. Cool breezes. Cool days. Cooler nights. (I even have my windows open right this very moment, enjoying the breeze.)
And it's lovely.
BLISSFUL.
The children WANT to be outside. They STAY outside. They ENJOY outside. When I glance at the clock and I see that it's already 6:30pm, I hate having to call them inside. I long to be a genie and twinkle my nose and make those black hands move back an hour or two so they can enjoy longer. These days are few and far between, and I want them outside as much as possible.
Catching bugs. Picking flowers. Finding tadpoles. Playing in the hose. Riding bikes. Soaking up the Vitamin D.
I remember moving into the neighborhood and thinking I had purchased a home in a ghost town. NO ONE was ever outside during the day. Not. A. Soul. But, when the clock hit 5:30 or 6:00, the doors started cracking open and people, shielding their eyes from the blinding sun, starting placing their flip-flopped feet on the hot, hot pavement, and emerging from their cooled shelters. Slowly, the spring to their step would resurface and the children would start to run and play and laugh. Bikes and walking families would pass by. The bugs were still there, obvious by the eternal swatting of the legs as passers by would file past, but they would wave, smile and continue on, enjoying the setting sun and the cooling temperatures. Don't get me wrong. It was still WAY HOT, sometimes even blazin' hot. It was just a bit more bearable.
The changing seasons down here aren't four in number. It's either hot or cold. Not much in between. Winter and fall are the same. Spring and Summer. The same. But, the last two or three Springs have been so pleasant. Cool breezes. Cool days. Cooler nights. (I even have my windows open right this very moment, enjoying the breeze.)
And it's lovely.
BLISSFUL.
The children WANT to be outside. They STAY outside. They ENJOY outside. When I glance at the clock and I see that it's already 6:30pm, I hate having to call them inside. I long to be a genie and twinkle my nose and make those black hands move back an hour or two so they can enjoy longer. These days are few and far between, and I want them outside as much as possible.
Catching bugs. Picking flowers. Finding tadpoles. Playing in the hose. Riding bikes. Soaking up the Vitamin D.
So today, when Lana and Noah begged me to let them play in the water. I said yes. When Lana wanted to play make-over outside, I said yes. When Noah wanted the boogie boards on the trampoline, I said yes...
(When Lana asked for oatmeal and Noah requested cold cereal for dinner, I also said yes. Because I'm the best mom ever. Not really. I just didn't want to cook anything.)
(When Lana asked for oatmeal and Noah requested cold cereal for dinner, I also said yes. Because I'm the best mom ever. Not really. I just didn't want to cook anything.)
...you scratch my back...i'll scratch yours...
...because the forecast is for higher temps this weekend, and they wont want to be outside in the blazin' hot sun for long.
1 comment:
Your children will remember those days and thank you for them. They will have happy memories to think of when they are raising their own children! We want to come see you guys!
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