Summer Sun

 It's happening already. The days are getting shorter, the sun is setting sooner. The littles are beginning to miss their earlier bed times. They'd tell you otherwise, but a mother can tell when her children are a bit on the tired side. Instead of spending all day outside playing, I have instituted nap time again (perhaps more for me than them). It's been a rough couple of days with a tired, cranky preschooler and a toddler who has suddenly decided to protest his afternoon naps. I finish my days completely exhausted, and wonder how I'm going to wake up with enough energy to do it all again the next day. 

After spending the morning tearing apart our washing machine (again), I decided to take the littles to the spray park for a couple of hours. We stopped for timbits on our way and enjoyed them on our picnic blanket between play. We were all happy to be out of the house! Their energy levels were high and laughter was non-stop. I sat on a blanket in the shade of a tree soaking it all in. Finley ran back and forth from the fence line to me, giggling as the grass tickled his little toes. Hyrum's loud bursts of laughter could be heard across the park, bubbling right up from his belly. Camilla danced through the water with a smile as bright as the sun. Joseph ran and ran alternating between his older siblings and his little brother. We had a nice snuggle on the blanket when he got cold. 

We all went home feeling refreshed. Finley fell asleep right away after I snuggled him into his bed and Joseph napped on the couch mid-afternoon. I cleaned a bathroom and tidied a few things and then took to my book and ignored the rest of the mess. At this point I am trying to find balance between house work, and taking time to put my feet up and feel the baby tumble around inside of me. Resting too much is simply not an option with this many littles depending on me for food, nurturing, and attention, so I take it in small amounts throughout the day. Today, the spray park served as a wonderful rest and so many memories were made!