Ripples

Violet in Summer

It is now summer.  The things I wish I could do, I am now fortunate enough to have the time to do them.  It is one of the greatest perks of working in education, behind working with young people and having the chance to reset my mindset each year as I receive a new group of students.

Blowing bubbles

The mornings are now a fresh start.  A clean slate, ready to be filled with activities...or just left blank if we feel like it.  Trips to the zoo,parks, city, and library are going to fill our time.  We will build blocks for naps and lunches and snacks.

Daddy/Daughter being lazy on the couch

Today Violet and I have visited the park, gone on dog walks, taken a glorious nap, feasted on berries, played tickle monster, and built some lego towers.   Audrey is off in Indiana with her grandmother for a few days, enjoying riding horses and endless garden and backyard time!

Audrey and a horse.

Audrey at riding lessons in Indiana

Last week, one of my best friends and his wife left for the airport after a short day visit on their way back to Alaska.  What a nice thing, to be able to just talk and have some laughs and enjoy a few hours together.  Audrey and Violet loved showing off their toys and playing host at our house, explaining rules and reading bedtime stories.  It is nice to have the opportunity to show off my children, and just let people know what we spend our days doing here in the burbs of Chicago.

Childhood friends:  Abel and Marcus (Audrey is photobombing us if you look closely)

Jodee and the girls, playing out front.

Jodee and the girls at Front Street Cantina in Plainfield.  Yum!  

As friends come and go, as well as family, I feel that we are tossing stones in a still pond, and our ripples that are our actions, pulsate throughout our small universes, colliding and reflecting off of each other.  Sometimes our actions will return to us, and other times not.  Different things throughout the day, whether thoughts, objects, sounds, or otherwise remind me of parts of my life, both recent and in the distant past.  These ripples are sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter, sometimes refreshing, and other times frustrating.  As I progress in this life, I try to be more considerate of the stones I throw out and of the ripples they may cause.

Daddy/Daughter being goofs.  Life is great.