Dedicated to all mothers, everywhere.
From all of us.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Ordinary Extraordinary #3: Insane Boat Plane
Someone stole our spot! We ventured up Mountain Loop Highway a little further, looking for a shallow day spot on the river to picnic and play.
“Tell me if you see a spot,” Chris said. I craned my neck and scanned outside my window. Surprisingly, other people had the same idea on this sunny May day, and had already pitched tents and hammocks along the river banks. Also surprisingly, Mountain Loop Highway had not yet re-opened fully following the winter closure. This limited our options, but we optimistically continued scouting our perfect location. Continue reading “Ordinary Extraordinary #3: Insane Boat Plane”
Cell Phone Kids
They walked towards us like zombies. Heads down, arms out, cell phones in hand. Mouths agape, we stepped off the sidewalk to let them pass. Not one of the family of four looked up; not one of them noticed our family of six. Surely, they were joking, poking some family fun at society’s cultural norm. But they weren’t laughing, and neither were we. In fact, they continued on in the same manner, entranced and disengaged, somehow staying on their path. A half-hour later, they lurched past us again, the dad one step ahead, two young children side-by-side, and the mom trailing behind, heads down, arms out, eyes glued. Every. Single. One.
Continue reading “Cell Phone Kids”
Creeped Out at Devil’s Tower
The mural on the old police station said it all, “Welcome to Concrete, the center of the known universe.”
“Well, that’s pretty presumptuous,” I said to Chris. Continue reading “Creeped Out at Devil’s Tower”
Kickin’ It at Kiket! An Easy Hike and Free Apples
Not all adventures need to be big ordeals. Too often, we hear people say, “Yeah, we should go hiking or take the kids outside somewhere, but none of us have good hiking boots.” Or, “If Lily misses her nap, she’ll be a bear later.” Or, “I can’t imagine a hike with little kids and no stroller.” Or, “I usually don’t go farther than I can haul a cooler.” Or, “I really need to get some buckets and shovels for the beach.”
Here’s the thing. Continue reading “Kickin’ It at Kiket! An Easy Hike and Free Apples”
Ordinary Extraordinary #2: Having a Ball!
It’s all fun n’ games until Kid #3 falls in the mud.
“Honey! Don’t laugh! She’s really upset,” Chris raised his eyebrows at me.
The laughter bubbled up inside me and I hid behind Kid #4’s ball and giggled wildly with my quiet voice. Undoubtedly with parenting, there is a fine line between hilarity and madness. I knew the work that lie ahead, my amused face a mere mask for the frenzied to-do list in my head.
Continue reading “Ordinary Extraordinary #2: Having a Ball!”
Ordinary Extraordinary #1: Merry-Go-Round
Introducing our new mini-series: Ordinary Extraordinary, a personal challenge from us to you, highlighting ordinary life experiences in extraordinary ways. Otherwise and oftentimes overlooked, simple joys exist all around us. Old-fashioned toys, everyday objects, natural “treasures,” hidden art, weird words, outside games, and unexpected discoveries form the stories of our lives. Truly appreciating life’s simplicity requires a perspective shift, a touch of curiosity, a willingness to slow down, and the energy to play like a child. Continue reading “Ordinary Extraordinary #1: Merry-Go-Round”
Sunny Day Snow Play (Mom’s Stuck!)
We almost didn’t post this one. The adventure happened weeks ago on a rare, surprise snow day, and we stayed home to enjoy it. Home, yes, but we left our house in the drifts and trudged toward the hill. Our plastic sled-somethings and unbending wooden skim board tucked optimistically under our arms, we set out on foot, smashing snowflakes into tread. Continue reading “Sunny Day Snow Play (Mom’s Stuck!)”
