Archive for the ‘kids do’ Category

To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring – these are some of the rewards of the simple life.  ~John Burroughs

Over the past couple of years, our family has turned increasingly to Mother Nature for “entertainment.”

Dinner and a movie for a family of five costs at least $65… but a hike and cookout in the beautiful canyon by our home costs less than $10.

Going to a Water Park would cost our family around $100, but a short hike to Sliding Rock, a beautiful, amazingly fun, natural occurring water slide near our home, is totally free.

On a beautiful day, there is nothing sweeter than packing a delicious picnic and meeting your sweetheart at the park.  I enjoy it so much more than an expensive lunch at a crowded restaurant.

We’ve had so much fun camping as a family… fishing and hiking and best of all, sitting around the campfire at night cooking dinner over the fire and making s’mores… letting the kids burn a few marshmallows.  These memories are priceless to me.

Making it do has a silver lining when it forces you out into nature.  You might discover that you’d rather be there…  even when making it do is not a necessity.

I just saw the kids off at the bus this morning.  It’s the first day of school.

As the bus drove away I felt the mixed feelings that I’m sure many other mothers feel…

I am excited to be back to the wonderful routine that school brings.  I can’t wait to have kid free hours every day.  I can work or clean uninterrupted.  There will be no one for hours in the day to spill crackers or milk on my newly mopped floor.

But I also feel intense heartache at the unstoppable nature of time.  My children are growing faster than I ever dreamed possible.  There are so many things I want to teach and do with my children… so much I want to cherish.

So now I will put away the breakfast dishes.  I will work on my projects.  I will get cookies and milk ready for when they step off the bus, tired from a long first day of school.

I will sit down and hear about their day… and try to stop time, if only for a moment.