I dedicate this entry to LOVE. The following is what comes to mind when I think of "love":
- Love is my husband giving me the green light to get out of the house early to get fresh tracks and enjoy a few rare hours to myself.
- Or better yet, Love is being able to sneak out for a Friday afternoon backcountry "adventure" with my sweetheart. Even with conditions marginal, just being able to skin up and chat with my favorite playmate reminds me of why we got into this "mess" in the first place.
- Love is being able to get the whole family out enjoying a sunny Sunday ski tour to Underhill State Park and watching Cally ski down on her own (note the tiny skis in the back of the Chariot). Reminding me that outdoor adventures certainly don't have to end when you have kids!
- Love is planning to move wood while the kids sleep, but when its clear we have a "No Nap Nelly and Ned", having them join us and really seem to have fun participating!
- Love is seeing a little kid jump at the opportunity to learn to do yet another winter sport and hearing her say she "loves" it.
- Love is having a helper in the kitchen. Who clearly feels so happy being able to help.
- Love is seeing this little spirit light up a room. He's hardly thwarted by a broken leg........ crawling fast, climbing stairs, and showing us more and more personality everyday.
- Love is seeing the kids that have more and more fun together every day that they are on this planet.
When Cal was sick with the stomach bug last week, we tried to keep the kids apart and realized how close they have become. He wants to be with her as much as she wants to be with him.
- Love is hearing Cally say, "we want pancakes for breakfast or we want to go for a walk at Mills Riverside Park" and when asked who the we is that she's referring to, she says, "me and Hazen, of course".
- Love is what has developed between the kids and the animals. Cally tells Zephy she loves her all the time and calls Lobby "sweetie". She puts blankets on Lobby and she just sits back and lets it happen. Hazey lights up when either come into the room.
- But the real love is in our bedroom every morning when both kids are in bed with us-- snuggling, laughing, playing, and just feeling love all around us. Hazey usually joins us around 6am, but nurses and sleeps until we hear the pitter patter of two little feet, a bright "Hi Mom" and a climb into bed by Cally anywhere between 6:30 and 7am. Whatever time it is, we always have time to hang out in our lovely bedroom, talk about what we'll be having for breakfast and what things the kids want to do that day. Then Cally takes off and dresses herself..... with intense independence, she insists on putting everything on herself. It's my favorite part of the day and can make even a tired mom feel ready to take on the world.
