Small Big Things in June

Time, as always, is moving too fast, and yet at a summer pace.  The days are slow, yet seem but an eye blink.  It is a quiet weekend, as our plans were canceled...but the positive is the house is clean and the fridge is stocked!  Here are some pictures from the past couple weeks including Aunt Eden's visit and the annual run up in Duluth at Grandma's Marathon!  I completed the half this year, and enjoyed all it had to offer!

Cheers!

-a

A snack board on a summer afternoon.

On a run/bike with Violet.  Here we are at "The IT Drain".

Violet and Dad at Audrey's Flute Recital

Audrey during her recital.  She is truly wonderful!

At the zoo with Aunt Eden!

Sam on the Panda!

These ladies on the carousel. 

Saying hi to the snow leopard.

Audrey petting a goat.

Sam petting a goat.

These three....I just love them forever.

Chilling on a bench for a minute.

Painted Dog

Polar Bear

Grizzly Bear

Reminder:  Polar Bears are bigger than you.

Big sister piggyback ride!

Picture at the Roo with Aunt Eden

Seeing Spiderman with Aunt Eden.  Sam is here for the snacks.

My traditional pre-race meal at Grandma's Saloon:  Marathon Marinara Spaghetti!

It is always nice to be back in Duluth and take=in Lake Superior.

At the start corral of the half marathon.  It was another good year, and I am thankful to have the ability to run!  

Oskar in the morning sun.

Oskar and Luna:  Sun Dogs.

 

The Adventures Continue

A quick hello!  It is a refreshingly rainy morning!  It hasn't rained in weeks and the whole area needs it!  The windows are open and the cool, fresh air is blowing through the main level of the house.  Robins and finches call out on occasion, and the rustling of the leaves makes for a peaceful morning experience!  More than once in the past month I have heard both of my daughters mention that they read this blog and use it to find pictures from their earlier years!  It makes me happy to know that this whole blog is coming full circle in some ways!  So, in that spirit, here are some pictures from our summer thus far!  Let the adventures continue!

-a

Getting excited to run in the half marathon in Duluth in the near future!  Getting all the info for race day in this information booklet!  So exciting!

Audrey om her 8th grade graduation night.  I love her so much.  Proud Dad moment here.

I love going to the zoo, and the kids like it, too!

Getting the carousel in FIRST today!  

Sam on the Panda today.

Audrey on the polar bear cub and Violet on the penguin.  

Sam in a boat in the Swamp House

Sam and a Lemur.

We have enjoyed a few nights outside just playing and sitting by a fire.

Violet and Dad selfie by the It Drain Pipe.  Violet biked while I ran.  She did 5.6 miles this day!

Violet and Dad at Audrey's Flute Recital.  I love her so much!

Audrey during her recital.  She works so hard, and we are all so proud!

 

Lost in the Gray

 We are now into the first couple weeks of summer...something I like to refer to as "The Gray".  It is a time when we shed most of our schedules, tensions, habits, and routines from the school year and simply marinate in the time we have with minimal scheduling or activities.  The children get to sleep until they are awake, and stay awake until they are asleep.  Screens, movies, snacks, softball, walks, bikes, runs, books, art, STEAM projects...these are the things that have filled The Gray lately.  

We stew and enjoy the lack of any real time constraints for the moment, but bigger things are on the horizon that will require our awareness of the calendar!  We are looking forward to seeing Aunt Eden in a week, and will need to get the house in operating conditions as far as general cleanliness goes.  Audrey also has high school marching band practice as well as flute lessons and a recital coming up!  Violet will be busy with basketball camp and general hanging out with friends around the neighborhood.  Sam has been active with his STEAM projects, and going to the park and library with me.  Baseball games, Zoo trips, movie nights, carnivals, baking, cooking, walks, and many other mini-adventures await out there on the horizon for us.

Today is another lazy start but also so enjoyable.  Sam and I are on the couch and the girls are asleep, after another night of being awake way too late.  The day is supposed to be a cooler one, so maybe a walk this afternoon with the dogs!  Keep it simple, keep it simple.  Things will get more complex as time moves forward, but for now I am savoring these quiet mornings and simple times.  There will be time, soon enough, where we will look back on these unstructured mornings with great envy.  

-a