A Wonderful Weekend

If you can't tell, last week was not filled with my finest mothering moments. Nope. Last week was streaked with discouraged tears, marred by frustrated exclamations and patched together with desperate searches for inspiration. I found myself crying through conference talks on quite a few morning runs.

But that is motherhood. It's not a job that yields finery. It's a job that yields refinement. And lucky for me, my kids are expert craftsmen. They know just where my rough edges are and they love to help me sand them down.

The week itself was an uneventful blur. I made an extra effort to increase play dates with friends. Aaron is in desperate need of friends lately.  He is a social being.  Whenever we enter any public playground he immediately scouts out the kids his age and initiates a game. He has a huge imagination and loves to draw others into his world.  And, he especially feels proud when he's able to help his friends.  We invited the Sharpe girls over for a whole afternoon and he loved stepping into the "hero" role over and over again. He makes a great hero.

There was soccer practice, (aka an opportunity for JJ to observe the cows in the neighboring field and collect as many rocks as his heart desires).

He was very sad when we left them behind.

The week ended with a bike rally for the Relay for Life hosted by Aaron's "cochlear implant school."  JJ was asked to be an honorary rider.  It was his happiest moment of the week, and perhaps mine too (up to that point).  His face beamed as he pumped those little pedals round and around the gym.  Sweet how such simple surprises can bring sweet feelings of joy.

Speaking of sweet, JJ was a big fan of the cupcakes at Kiera Sharpe's birthday party.  He ate his and most of mine too.

And then the weekend came, bringing with it wonderful friends and welcome sunshine.  The Roberts family drove down from NC to visit us, and we loved their company.

 Can't you tell?  This picture makes me giggle for so many reasons.  The expressions on the older kiddos, the clothing on the boys in the background (JJ is still wearing all his clothes plus his jacket).

 Our first official lake swim of the year was glorious.  I had to drag JJ from the chilly water up to the campfire afterwards.

 We talked and ate and reminisced with the Roberts around the campfire.  Aaron did his best to impress Violet with his smoothe moves in the water.  And JJ build the beautiful sand piles. 

 All in all, the wonderful weekend brought much needed balance back to life.  It was one of those "all will be well" moments.  We are so lucky to live in this beautiful place, and to get to share it often with great friends.  It's a wonderful life.