Sunday

Daddy, Audrey, and Violet with Chuck E. Cheese.

Our little family spent a nice weekend in South Bend visiting family.  The snow has melted away, and the pavement gets its first glimpses of spring.  While the bitter wind still nips at our faces from time-to-time, the additional sunlight and increasing temperatures convince us to get outside every day now.  The girls are so happy to be running around and getting their ya-ya's out, and they are not the only ones!  Walking the dog at night on longer and longer routes is great, and getting to run and train outside is so much better than a treadmill!

Every father's dream:  Two daughters driving!  

With spring comes a sense of renewed optimism.  As each winter comes and goes, I find myself taking more and more time to appreciate the changing of the season.  I like taking stock in all of the positives in my life:  family, friends, health, etc.  We are looking forward to another summer full of trips to zoos, museums, and walks all over.  I am also savoring the anticipation of reading many books with my daughters, exercising on a much more regular basis, and enjoying a generally healthier life style.

Audrey riding a horse.  Easily her favorite game of the day!  

Audrey racking-up the prize tickets!

The morning offers limitless possibilities.  There is something exciting and relaxing at the same time about not making plans for a day, and allowing events to just happen. Today mostly involves more packing, running, and that's about it.  Our little house is getting packed-up, and it is the first time in a long time that the dining room does not consist mostly of Legos and small plastic figurines.  While we still have a while to go in terms of putting our house on the market, there is something about the cleaning process that is very cathartic.  Making choices about what is truly important as we move forward with our lives, and what is not.  What clothes we really use, and what can be donated.  Looking at the things we need to define ourselves vs what we no longer identify with.  It is also nice to declutter every room, and find enjoyment in the simplification of our personal possessions.  

The girls watching our minivan going through the wash.  They love this!

Oooooooh, shiny vehicle.  This is a rare event, so I thought it important to document!

The sense of renewal that spring brings, combined with our feelings of starting a new segment in life as a family is very powerful.  The days of spring bring a clean slate of sorts, where we are free to design a framework for living that best suits us.  While we sit together imagining a strong future, we also enjoy the present and all that it has to offer.  Making the most of the things we have today is what allows us to envision a successful future.  

A moving unit in our driveway (children for scale).

Audrey rocking-out inside the moving unit.  Soon it will be full!

Sunday Morning Thoughts

Violet at her Valentine Party at school.

It is Sunday morning.  There is a light frost on the cars outside, trying to intimidate me out of going on my first run of the season outside.  The sun has risen, and the girls are covered in blankets on the couch next to me, enjoying some morning cartoons.  I remember being a child on the weekends, enjoying my morning cartoons, too.  While technology has evolved and created shows on demand, some traditions must be observed!

As we transition from winter to spring, I am once again thankful for having survived another cold season here in the Midwest.  Winters, while not my favorite, are beautiful but make it difficult to remain active and get our "ya-ya's" out.  We have been truly savoring our outside time this past week, despite the marsh-like grassy areas and parks that are now seeing the light of day from under their dense layers of snow.

Audrey making a book selection at the book store!

With warmer weather and brighter days, we are starting to make plans for travel, visitations and more moving around!  A visit from family is in our future!  We are also looking forward to more trips into the city, despite our last attempts during the ultra busy auto show.  Getting to visit the lake shore, Lincoln Park Zoo, and maybe even some skyscrapers this summer are all high on our priority list.

Violet + Cake = yumm!!!

Something else that is happening is the potential purchase of a new home!  We have been growing our family for almost seven years now, and we are truly ready for some more space and a potential back yard!  We like the area we live in, and there are some good houses on the market.  So, in anticipation of moving, we have ordered many packing boxes, tape, and packing paper and bubblewrap!  Kim has nearly completed packing the kitchen, and I have gotten a few boxes packed in the bedrooms!  There is no timetable for this, but the sooner the better in terms of packing and de-cluttering.  One thing is for sure, we have a lot of stuff!  We are excited about moving and getting-rid of a lot of things that we have outgrown or simply don't use anymore.  Top house wish list items include a guest room for visitors, a basement, and a backyard!  There have been a few tornado warnings over the years, and I can tell you, it is NOT a good feeling to hope the closet is a safe place for the entire family during a storm.

Our packing boxes arrive!  Time to get things in boxes!

Growing as a family is a strange thing, but very wonderful.  We are now four people, all with different opinions, wants, and needs.  As many know, children are very challenging.  I do think they are the greatest piece of my life, but there are some very trying days.  Gone are the times of being responsible for only myself.  Most days are filled with learning, art, laughter, and running around.  There are some times, though, that consist of fights, arguing, and some tears.  In the end, these are all the things that make us a family.  It is always  good thing to wake-up and have these little girls ready for another day of adventure.

Violet happy to be at our park for the first time this spring!

Violet in the sun!

So now we are all awake.  Sunday morning is warming-up, and the cartoons are nearly over.  Breakfast is in our immediate future, and then some outside time seems to be inevitable.  While an old version of me would be sleeping until noon, the new father version is awake, working on coffee cup #2, and getting ready for a day of learning with his kiddos.  Bring-on Sunday!

-a

Violet tummy swinging!