HIKING AT HOPKINS

Today was a sunny Saturday with temps right about 70 and all six Ws home for the day. Silas and Devon had just returned from a four day trip last night and wanted to lay low, a sentiment I shared because I wanted to spend the day reading library books, but Tim, Naomi, and Tyler were up for it. I knew I'd regret wasting the chance to do something outside as a family if we spent the day inside, so off we went to Hopkins Demonstration Forest, where we spent two and a half hours hiking, goofing off at a creek, and having a picnic. 

I asked another family to take a picture of us near the start of our time there.

Another hiker gave us a heads up about a spot where we could hike down to a creek. We spent quite a bit of time there as the kids played games with sticks, jumped on rocks across the creek, and tried to see how big of a splash they could make as they threw things in the water.

Not a particularly interesting picture, but I just love blue skies, green trees, dirt paths, and fresh air.

Four smiling little Ws.

Four silly little Ws.

Two happy parents.

Such a great way to spend the middle of our day!

BIKE RIDE DATE

Tim and I haven't had a date in a few weeks and our date budget for the month has been used up. I knew we needed a little time alone, so I sent him a text this afternoon to see if he wanted to go on a bike ride date after dinner. It was a perfect evening for it! Blue sky, trees and flowers in bloom, and just under an hour of chatting about random things while we rode through quiet neighborhoods.

THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for a table filled with plants in our living room. What's one thing you're thankful for?

ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

Life's been a little unpleasant around these parts lately. Nothing newsworthy - irresponsibility, hurt feelings, unmet expectations, poor communication, inadequate sleep. Just ordinary rough patches in family life.

Things turned a corner yesterday, though, and we had a nice evening together. Silas got home much earlier than expected. Tim pulled fresh salmon out of the smoker just in time for dinner. We all chatted with some neighbors in the front yard. Hopped on bikes and rode to Settlemier Park. Had a rousing game of Lava Monster on the playground (which I bowed out of quickly because I hate it with a passion, but enjoyed watching from the swings). Rode home and settled down for the evening. Tim and the big boys played Exploding Kittens after the other kids went to bed. I spent some time reading and drinking tea while listening to some mellow instrumental music. Then the rest of us hit the sack.

It was a pleasant return to better family dynamics and a perfect end to the weekend.

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THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for a few days of warmth and sunshine. What's something that you're thankful for?

SOAK UP THE SUN

We make a point to keep Sundays low-key, going to church in the morning and taking naps in the afternoon. The last couple Sundays have been busier than usual, which is fine, but I've been eagerly anticipating today's nap, followed by several hours of reading library books in bed.

Temps came close to 70 today and the sun is shining, so I mentioned after church that I wish I'd brought different shoes so we could have gone on a hike before heading home. Tim asked if I wanted to go for one after a quick stop for lunch and a shoe swap, but I was torn. I love, love, love going on hikes. And I really, really, really wanted a nap. What's a girl to do?

We went for the hike. It was the right choice. 

The big boys weren't home, but we grabbed Gabi before we left and the five us headed to Willamette Mission State Park. It was a gorgeous day - sunny, warm, and with a little breeze. We spotted a caterpillar, woodpecker, a couple squirrels, and several other birds, as well as paused a few times to check out the river, as we walked a two miles. 

We weren't ready to leave yet when our trail brought us back to the parking lot, so the kids played in the trees for a while.

Then we had a tic-tac-toe marathon.

Tyler and Gabi wanted to do a little more walking, so I took them on a different trail than we'd gone on earlier. They spent about a mile and a half acting like explorers, watching a hawk that kept circling above us, collecting sticks, figuring out how to make various noises dragging sticks on pavement, breaking sticks, and collecting more sticks. Notice a theme there?

Everyone was ready to leave by the time we made it back to Tim and Naomi, so we loaded up the car and went home.

Then our great day got even better.

We always eat leftovers on Sunday, as that's part of what allows us to have a restful day. Today, however, Maria came over shortly after we got back from church with piping hot chicken mole and fresh tortillas. Seriously! (I'm just now realizing I never blogged about the meal we shared with her family last weekend. I'll have to get on that!)

She and Gabi usually come to church with us, but weren't able to make it today. During some of the time she'd normally have spent at church, she busted out a tasty meal for her family and shared part of it with ours. Unfortunately we'd already scarfed some leftovers so we could quickly get out the door for our hike, so we couldn't eat it right then. Bummer, but heating it all up a few hours later made a perfectly delicious post-hike dinner!!

And now, as we settle into our evening, my ever so slightly sunburned, not the least bit hungry anymore, really glad she got outside self is going to grab some books and rest.

TWO PARENTING WINS ON THURSDAY

I don't see Silas much these days, so I asked to come along for the ride while he ran errands. He bought me a churro. Parenting win! 

For balance, I'll also mention that I was in tears at another point in the day because ... well, I'm human and live with other humans. Family life has highs and lows, for sure, and sometimes you hit them both within an hour.

While playing with the sibs, Tyler recently broke something of his that he'll need to pay to replace. Devon, who was part of the situation, handed him some rolled up cash to help defray the cost of replacement. It's a small percentage of the total cost, which is fine because Tyler's ultimately the one responsible, but the gesture made my day.

In a season of parenting where I feel like I keep repeating the same things over and over and over to all the little Ws, it was encouraging to see one of them do something honorable, showing integrity by taking the initiative to make amends for something that wasn't technically their fault, but which they were a part of.

Sometimes raising kids feels like an exercise in futility (just like trying to please me can feel to them), so documenting these parenting wins reminds me that all is not lost just because I'm weary at a particular point in time.