Walking

One of the things I love about our neighborhood is the walkability.  Name your amenity, and we can walk to it: the library, the grocery store, a seemingly infinite number of playgrounds, shops, restaurants. Winter hibernation gets us out of the habit and into our cars, unfortunately.  Last night, it was time to get back to walking.

We went to the grocery store, Jack and Ivy and Corydon and I, setting off with a stroller stocked with reusable bags, leashes, drinks, and poop bags, and came home with a stroller laden with cake mix and frosting and strawberries and milk...

The children never rode in the stroller.  They walked the whole way there, and back, and our errand turned to an adventure.  Perhaps it was the cool-crisp sunshine or the way the neighborhood gleamed, green and mowed-- but walking with my children last night was magical.



They wandered and explored and found sticks and pinecones and tiny things on the sidewalk.  For  a long portion of the adventure, they wore plastic bags as a skirt and a tail respectively.  Jack pretended to be a dragon and Ivy pretended to be a frog.  They ran races ahead of me and dawdled behind.  They blew the fluff off of dandelions and balanced on parking lot curbs. They danced and twirled and took forever and listened just perfectly.  Corydon only walked in front of the stroller about half a dozen times.  We took an hour and a half to buy two bags of groceries, and it was perfect.

I am happy for spring and the fact that we will be doing this more often.


This evening we welcomed the quick approach of summer with the iconic meal of burgers and brats at M & W's.  The evening was noteable for two reasons beyond the perfect weather and the extreme cuteness factor of our combined progeny.  One:  we had several extended periods of grown up conversation while all 4 children played.  Quietly.  Together.

Two:  This moment of conversation with my daughter--

Mommy: [sneezes]
Ivy:  Bessyou, mommy!
Mommy: Thank you, Ivy! You are so sweet!
beat
Ivy: No bessyou in MY nose!

Can I tell you how much I love that she calls a sneeze a "bessyou"???  It makes perfect sense, really.  I love this little girl.

Tomorrow is her party.


 We have been knee-deep in rainbows and cupcakes all evening and there is a great deal more to do in the morning, plus a "date" with my boy, before guests arrive at 4.  It promises to be a rich and full weekend... (translation:  don't expect a post from me before Monday...)  Enjoy yours!