A little juice and chalkin the shade out front (it’s been unusually warm and dry).

They toss down their park gear.

Paul is practicing his writing and spelling at every turn

and really enjoying the messwhile Henry is distractedand Olivine chugs down juicewhile I sit on the steps and take it all in.

This afternoonthe silence gave way to productivity.I graded papers, sipped water, enjoyed a tomato and mozzarella salad and then called a friend without interruption or guilt.Thank you little ones for the simple gift of silence this afternoon.

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

I am a skeptic at times, but then my kids give me a chance to see pieces of generosity…like when Paul and Henry went on another crafting binge and covered the window. (They too have discovered the magic of double stick tape)

In the midst of crafting under an open window they saw and greeted our neighbor. Suddenly with her on his mind, Paul drew and cut out a building with a stapled roof and colorful windows. He wrote our neighbor’s name and asked if he could run upstairs and leave it on her doorstep. I loved it. My heart expanded thinking of his simple and sweet act of kindness.Two days later when we went outside and this was waiting for him, I caught myself pondering more about how I can live a life with the intention of brightening someone else’s day.
Thank you Paul, you inspired me to make more of an effort, even in the smallest way.

is what I think when I see these two togetherThey  were playing and hiding I caught them making motorcycle noises and then giggling hystericallywhen I would come in and peek on them.

Paul can’t handle surprises (he gets it from me) so the whole car ride he is listing off the possibilities…are we going fishing? tide pools? friend’s house? hiking? and he finally resigns himself to an adventure?Yeah!  at the LACMA!the boys loved seeing Metropolis IIwith tons of cars and trains racing around.Then there was the hanging out in the plastic tubing
that I kept calling “yellow spaghetti.”So fun for little ones.Eventually wandering over to look at the tar pits
and a little tree climbing.I swear this was left over from an Easter egg hunt, but Paul was stoked to find it in the bushes.
It was Sunday afternoon art projects at the museum.They painted and made braceletswhile the little one waited patiently nearby.
Of course we had to stand under the “Levitated Mass” rockand after three hours and a little sunshine this was our sweet relief:Paul had strawberry lemonade
and Henry had pineapplethey were willing to shareand then we headed home.Another awesome day spent exploring a place in our own backyard.

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

When I woke up this morning I was reminded that a diver had been using the tub lastand if I had any doubts, my fridge has proof of Paul’s constant love for diving.I haven’t yet decided what to store in these baskets for Miss O – but I love them.I noticed this lovely handmade instrument in their room from a weekend project.And did I mention that Joe is an awesome pizza maker who somehow attributes his talents to his days of working at Domino’s in the Tenderloin.

I would say it’s much more likely that he learned a ton while delivering pizzas via bike, but as for becoming a gourmet chef. He’s just good at experimenting with food.Last on my list is these two. After taking a shower they use our mini hand towels. They go between insisting I tie them around their waste so they can look like papa, to wanting the towels twisted and wrapped like they see their momma do with her hair.

defined as a pleasing combinationand the word that best describes these threeas I watch them swoop in to take care of or help the smallest one.She is oblivious at times that these brothers protect her.Their harmony is less about how they are all well behaved and get along perfect
and more about the balance created when together.The oldest is the imaginative leader of the group
while Henry is our hungry, happy, and easy going one.For our family the range between these three is magical.

This is one tired momma. It’s not a complaint as much as it is a fact. Where I go from teaching all day to nights where the two more hours at the college classroom push me to the edge. Then I get up and do it all again. New students arriving, children moving back to first grade, documenting incidents, calling families, using a translator, and all the while trying to keep that clear boundary of leaving those situations at work. My drive home is usually reserved for a mixture of prayer and reflection of the day. So all that said, I walked in the door on this random Wednesday and found a surprise:Flowers and signs and love overflowing from the foyer.I am a lucky lady to be given such an afternoon greeting. I will get through this week and this school year even if I can’t yet see how. So much of what I am learning is to continue on the path and trust that we are headed in the right direction.

Thank you sweet family for reminding me I just don’t have to do any of it alone. I have a cheering section that believes I am strong enough.