While every age and stage has its good parts and challenging parts, this current stage of family-life being no different (though I'm going to ignore the challenging parts right now), one big plus to our current stage is our mobility and our ability to giddy up out of town when we want to. Travel becomes (mostly) easier as we shed gear and increase independence. We are past the sand-eating age, past the absolutely necessary nap stage, and everyone can sleep in a sleeping bag. All that coupled with not yet having reached an age of soccer and t-ball and music concerts dominating our schedules, and it's a sweet spot for little adventures. All of the stuff that came before was lovely and all the stuff that comes after will undoubtedly be too, but right now, I'm enjoying our ability to move around with relative ease. Last night, as we conked out under the stars (really, we could see the stars because somehow we left the fly for our tent at home so we were just gazing right up at those suckers), after our last minute decision to go camping, I realized how much I'm enjoying this current iteration of family life. It's not always a super easy breezy good time (we've been having a few too many dramatic interludes happening lately) in some regards but most of the time, I really enjoy the variety and the breadth of our activities and travels right now. Bigger vacations, small overnights, short trips to Lowe's for slip-and-slide materials, they all contribute to the feeling that we've got a pretty good rhythm going right now (I am probably completely jinxing myself as I prepare to fly east with the kids by myself later this week...). There are always balls in the air to juggle and when a bunch are up, others are probably down (my poor, long-suffering kitchen that needs to be cleaned and my professional continuing ed to name a few) but right now, that's a good and perfectly acceptable balance. I'm enjoying the newfound skills and abilities of my little people and I'll gradually prioritize the other stuff back in (maybe not the kitchen...). I feel extraordinarily lucky and grateful to enjoy this time like this and I appreciate the privilege more than words can properly convey. For now, I'll soak it all up before the next stage comes and hits me between the eyes.
This is what 7:15 looks like when one hasn't napped, run in and out of the water for the afternoon, found some secret hiding spots, kicked the soccer ball around, and played some tunes with Dad. Done.
This is also what 7:15 looks like when you have napped, volunteered to get yourself in jammies, and are acutely aware of the last-minute stop for s'mores supplies on the way out of town.
Oh, and that whole thing about all travel being easier... That might be a bit of an overstatement. If you witnessed our deplaning in the Honolulu airport last month, you would definitely question that statement. We apparently ordered ourself up one crazy, deranged lady and one half nude, super soaker pee-er. You can't win 'em all.
