fun in threes, sometimes fours
the boy
A significant portion of our lives is involved in taking back to the outside the dirt we drag inside. When you have a cat and a dog, there's even more to contend with. When you have an eight-year-old boy, that grows yet again.
So today, the Boy and I took on his room, something that we've neglected for far too long. Sure, we've done some mild interventions, but nothing like today: everything gets dumped out; everything gets rearranged; everything gets cleaned.
We’ve been doing more hiking lately. Three hikes in three weeks. Last week’s hike was a grueling seven-mile hike that included a fair amount of climbing. Today’s hike, in theory, seemed like it would be easier: 5.5 miles with only 1,000 feet of elevation gain.
In actuality, it was easier than even we anticipated. Much of the beginning of the hike was downhill, and then a substantial, flat portion around a lake.
Once we were halfway around the lake, we stopped for lunch and to let the dog romp about in the water and cool off.
And then the heat got to everyone. And the elevation got to E especially.
And the kids were just ready for the whole thing to be over.
We've been trying for some time to make it to Jones Gap. The last time we tried, we were turned away because the park was already full. We made it today, though.
Just barely: 7 miles (the Fitbit died before we finished) and something like 1,300 feet of climbing. The kids loved it. Mostly.
K even took a few pics on her phone.
We hiked Graveyard Fields off the Blue Ridge Parkway twice within six months thirteen years ago:
Graveyard Fields
Repeating Ourselves
K and I are certain we went a third time -- though we think it was actually our first time. There's no mention of it on MTS; I can't find any pictures of that trip. Still, K and I are certain we went.
This morning, we went for the first time in about thirteen years. The last time we went, L looked like this
Today, when we made it to the same location, I had the Girl stand roughly in the same spot to take a picture:
Where did that little girl go? We'll be asking the for the rest of our lives, I realize, but every time I ask that question again, I'm surprised again.
The deck is finished -- more or less.
The zucchinis, too.
A couple hid under leaves until they got ridiculously big.
K took the kids to meet with their Polish/American "cousins" to spend some time hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, specifically hiking up Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi.
If it’s late June and we’re in Poland, we might be celebrating Babcia’s birthday in one form or another. Probably not a lot of celebrating happening the day of it (at least not until later in the day) as Babcia, lacking any social media whatsoever, spends the day talking to people who phone her with birthday wishes.
As it is, we simply got everyone up early and phoned ourselves. It was hard to get through, though. Everyone loves Babcia.
If it’s late June and we’re not in Poland, I’ll probably be on the back deck, applying water sealant.
And of course, there’s the evening game of hearts.
Two nights in a row — how do I do it?
In the morning, a bike ride. The kids don't really want to go, but it's supposed to rain on and off throughout the day, and they need exercise, so I all but force them. L fusses about one thing; E has a wreck (due to his own carelessness) and ends up fussy for some time; I fuss about their fussing. It's easy to get caught up in the negative and let it chart the day's course for you if you're not careful. Not deliberate.
So I try to make things a little more careful, a little more deliberate. We get back and spend a fair amount of time, just the three of us, working on our bikes' brakes. They're all squeaking and squawking like feral hogs tied to deranged cats. For each bike, we loosen everything -- cables, brake pads, centering screws -- and recalibrate everything. As we're working, I like to think that the kids are enjoying learning something, but I'm not sure. In fact, I rather doubt it. But there's still some value in this, even if it's just spending time together solving a problem.
After dinner, the Girl decides she wants to play Hearts with Papa, K, and me. E is across the street playing with neighbors, and he's not able to follow a game with tricks and trumps just yet, so we play just the four of us.
We play eight hands, and in a surprise -- I never win at games -- I destroy everyone. L is the nearest to me, and she has almost double the points I have.
After the Boy comes in, he suggests War -- he's just learned it, and he likes it. One of two card games (Uno being the other one) that he enjoys.
I take the opportunity to take a few pictures. In the end, I can't decide between three action shots, so I include them all. And the other two shots? They're winning hands the Boy is particularly proud of. In the first one, the Girl gives him rabbit ears; in the second, he's wised up.
Once I put the Boy to bed, I grab L and take her down to watch a movie. It's the second night we've done this. Last night, I showed her The Help. It's a good sign when she wants the movie paused when she leaves to get a snack; last night, she paused it herself. Tonight we watch a quirky British romantic comedy, About Time. It's about making the most of life by looking at each day as a treasure. We all need to be reminded of that from time to time, especially a thirteen-year-old and her cranky father.