Matching Tracksuits

fun in fours

around the house

Playful Monday

It used to be something we did fairly frequently in the spring: all four of us would go outside and do something together: swings, trampoline, badminton, or just a walk. I guess we all took it for granted, but soon enough, schedules shifted, kids grew up, calendars filled up, and these evening family times disappeared.

But we still have the net up from Easter; and we still have two kids who enjoy badminton. So all four of us were out playing, though never at the same time -- that schedule thing again.

First I took on the Boy. He's getting so much better, but he flubs some that should have been fairly easy. No pictures of that one.

Then K came out and played with the Boy. I snapped a couple of pictures, but not many -- not even one of K playing.

Then the Boy went inside while K and I played a bit. We're down to two working rackets, so options were limited.

Finally, the Girl returned home from getting crickets for her Australian Tree Frog -- I don't know that we have a single picture of her, but L has had her since eighth grade.

She plays with the Boy for a while, but then I suggest I take the Boy's part and the Boy take the camera.

And so I promptly have fun while making a bit of a fool of myself. L wins at everything -- it's time we face it.

K, for her part, was inside, studying.

When will the stars align again for such a day?

Scenes from a Walk

Cheat Day

Just to keep the streak going -- we finished L's new bed, did some stuff in the yard...

First Bonfire

It's not that we haven't had the weather; we haven't made the time...

New Bed and Mowing

Around the House

Spring Sunday

Today was such lovely weather that we knew we had to head to our favorite park for a walk. The plan was to head out after lunch. It would just be K, E, and I because L was out all day, working and completing various obligations.

It's just the three of us more and more often, which is understandable: the Girl is about to finish her junior year of high school, and she's increasingly independent. She's always been independent, but with a car, a job, and social life, K and I sometimes worry that she might be a little too independent.

Just before lunch, though, plans changed: E's close friend invited him over for the afternoon.

"So I guess it's just the two of us," K said.

We're used to that, in theory, but we've been a four of us for so long that it's a distant memory more than anything else.

A distant memory that's becoming an ever-nearing future.

After the walk, K and I spend some time in the yard. She trimmed the roses and hedges; I mowed the lawn for the first time this year.

All in all, a perfect little Sunday.

Saturday

K talked with Babcia again.

The Boy had another soccer game, which they won 6-2.

And spring is everywhere.

Morning

Still out for the count...

Preparing

We’re supposed to get a hell of a storm through here tomorrow, with wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour and three to five inches of rain. Two separate concerns.

We have a forest in our backyard: wind gusts of 60 miles an hour could take down one of those beasts, and some of them are so big they would do significant damage to the house — like having to move out level of damage.

And we know how easily we can flood with less rain than predicted.

And so we went ahead and got ready for what’s sure to be come tomorrow.

Tomorrow is going to be rough.