Tiny Little Moments

I realize it’s repetitive. . . tiny and little.  It just seemed fitting with what I’m feeling tonight.  It’s about ten o’clock on Friday evening.  I just said good night to Charlie, Chanelle, Chad, and my two nephews.  We are up a 4 and 7 year old for a few days.  After saying goodnight I turned my back and listened as Chad made the final “zip” on the tent while I made my way up the deck stairs into the house. 

Chad is outside pulling “tent duty” while I”m inside on Meadow duty.  I should drag my exhausted body to bed and rest up for three more jam packed days with cousins, but I just can’t. I have to stop here first, because this space has become so much a part of my life that it’s like breathing.  I come here to document, reflect, and even relive the tiny moments that we experienced throughout our days.  I do so in the hopes that some day my own children will treasure the moments that we’ve captured and frozen in black and white on these blank pages. 

It’s not that major events happened this week.  Quite the contrary, actually.  But that’s the thing.  I value the everyday, normal moments that have become our life. . . that make up our story.  So tonight I’m stopping in just to capture those tiny little moments that have been so beautifully woven into the fabric of our week because truly, everything is worth remembering. 

Really, how do you forget the week that all three of your kids got sick with some unknown ailment one at a time.  First it was Meadow.  A fever above 100 and fussiness that we attributed to she must be teething. Turns out. . . we were wrong.  Her fever cleared up and suddenly, Chanelle came down with a fever.

Our typically “ball of sunshine” laid asleep on the couch for an entire day unable to eat, drink, or be merry.  She had no interest in anything we were doing despite our attempts to perk her up.

As soon as Chanelle’s fever cleared up, Charlie came down with it.  For several days our usual bouncy, on-the-go, outdoorsy little family was kept in the confines of our little abode and I must admit. . . it was lovely.

As much as I love getting outdoors, having play dates, visiting parks and finding new ways to entertain my little ones, I have a special affection for home.  I liked having an excuse to skip the running and doing.  Oh, I guess I can’t go to the grocery store today so-and-so is sick.  My favorite moment of our trappings inside was walking into Charlie and Chanelle’s room and finding my three kiddos huddled on the floor laughing.

Chanelle has a special knack for making us all laugh and if she knows we think she is funny she won’t stop.  I suspect that this scene on the bedroom floor will be one that I always remember.  Seeing them together like that, enjoying each others company, is truly what every mama dreams of, isn’t it? 

In between one fever or another we did our fair share of getting out, too.  We were even able to kidnap Chad for an evening at the park.  We do parks often, but the park with Daddy is a special treat.

Like me, Chad likes to explore. . .

. . . but he takes it a step further. . .

With Chad, we dive in and diving in brings smiles.

And this is all I’m talking about. . . these tiny little moments that are really simple, but when put together make up the story of our lives.  I wonder if years from now Charlie, Chanelle, or Meadow will be driving down the road and see a field filled with Queen Anne’s Lace and a memory from this week will be triggered.

I wonder if they will remember collecting the tiny flowers and bringing them in the house and filling cups of water with food coloring because Chad had told them that, by doing so, the flowers will change colors.

I wonder if they will remember walking over to those colorful cups filled with water all day long watching and waiting and wondering. . . will it really work?  (It does, by the way.)

And even though the end of the day found the flowers in the trash and the colorful water down the drain, I would bet that they will not be able to pass a field of Queen Anne’s Lace without remembering this day. 

And it is impossible for me to close this week of tiny little moments without mentioning the one big moment that occurred.  The moment that all of us, especially Charlie, has been anticipating for over a year. 

First tooth is gone.  While Meadow is gaining them, Charlie is losing them. 

All seems right with the world.

There. . . I feel better now.  Now, I’m ready to call it a night.

Happy Weekend. . .