liquidsummer: August 2011

First, we stopped in Georgia for a rest. We love a big ole' king size bed!

A stop in Asheville to visit old friends.

Good Friends! (The froggy's first friend ever, they are still very tight!)

A happy boy, he almost disappeared into the mountains!

Amazing waterfalls!

Some Simon says while running in the rain!

Building a snowman in the mountain earth, that glittered with mica.

One fine breakfast in the mountains!

We also made some smores for breakfast too! ...and yes, it was cool enough for a fire!

We really saw the roots of the earth!

and played in the lake

bathed in the glory!

We were brave in some very cold water, but it was worth it!

We made some new friends!

and returned them lovingly to their home

Saw some very cool "tree sculptures"

jumping in!!!

In sync

A beautiful end to the summer!
It was liquid indeed.

So, here we are, only a few weeks left of summer. And...I find myself softening into it a bit. By that, I mean chilling out, relaxing.....You see, right now, my kids are watching movies and playing video games. "Can we?" they asked...."Sure", I said, "why not." Their surprised faces starting to glow, with a wee bit of confusion. You know the drill, I usually say, "only an hour", or "not right now", or , "but you could play a board game instead", or "play outside", or "do a craft". All this resistance.

Well, I have decided to give in a bit. and you know what, they are happy and I am relaxed. How much damage can it do to just let them be free to do what they want for a morning or an afternoon? No raised voices, no cries of "I'm bored"...no power struggle. Just, pure blissful, summer, chill time.

We have plenty of outdoor play, trips to the library, fun games, quiet play, healthy, organic, responsible snacks...and now that I feel the school year and the structure creeping in, I vow to give them some time to just be, without me up their sweet little bums, and without them up mine.

So, the other night when they asked for dessert, I said "sure"...."can we have ice cream?"..."sure"..."with caramel sauce?"..."sure."...."and cherries?"..."sure."...(see they did incorporate fruit on their own!)
"really?" they asked, surprised and excited "sure", I said after a confirming glance from their other Mom."

So, as we sat at the table...it unfolded and their Mama suggested they create whatever they would like, "iron chef" style with the dessert ingredients...so here they are....enjoying a crazy summer dessert....."sure, why not?"