Just another perfect day

Living in a college town, we constantly come face to face with the timely incoming and outgoing of students. Each fall, as I drive through town, I can sense the excitement of the youngsters (and boy do they look young) as they proudly sport their UVA gear, coffee in hand. They lounge around on the green lawn and fill up spaces at the local Bodo's and I am excited for them, but there is always a part of me that envies them. They have a clean slate, the future in front, the world is their oyster. And I drive by in my uber cool minivan filled with babies and memories of my youth.

Come January, however, I drive by again, toasty in my minivan, with my babies, and I watch as these same students fight against the bitter cold, standing on the street waiting for the light to turn. The smiles wiped clean of their shivering faces and I know that the reality and stress of papers, exams and college life has set in, and I am so so happy I am so far past that stage in my life and I don't ever have to go back. I wouldn't trade places with them for anything.

I like being holed up in the winter. It's such a stark contrast to the summer where we are home for merely sleeping and eating. In the winter, we dance, we create, we imagine, we bring home mountains of books and read curled up on couches, kids piled on top of each other in a massive web of tangled arms and legs.

And then, we have days like these. Upper sixties, blue skies, green grass...ok, so it's astro turf (i think), and hours to spare.






The girls found a new cave....


which in turn decided to give Lulu a new 'do.


Jaxon discovered a new use for a football field....and I think, it's the BEST use...


and then I had a little soccer show down with team lightening....


and the one and only Lightening Man himself....


and guess what? Even super heros need water breaks.