family escape

April 07, 2012

family escape

in the midst of moving across town...changing neighborhoods, neighbors, and starting new all over again...we had an escape planned. it seemed crazy- but we decided to go for it and have our family get-away.

it blew us out of the water. it was majestic. all encompassing beauty. fresh clean mountain air. complete relaxation together.

and this get-away was perfect for our growing family. check out this play ground.

but after exploring every aspect of this play area

...claire quickly settled into what was her favorite past time- picking flowers.

it is what she would spend half the time doing.

drew and i thought it was so sweet that our little girl just wanted to pick "flowers" ( technically i think they are weeds. =)

getting away with our small brood does something magical for this mamma's heart. it feels like we put a pause button on real life and just get to stop. soak in. laugh at Claire's new words and thoughts and sentences. we kiss and cuddle sophia all day long. we take her swimming and have those precious "first moments" with her. and i know that i was made for family. and that being a momma has propelled me into a more complete, amazing, fulfilled life than i could ever dream. and vacations feel so fundamental. pieces of the puzzle that are bright and sparkly and you talk about for years. in between puzzle pieces of reading books and singing songs and going to our park, and eating dinners...the vibrant and the simple.

and along with long hikes with a 4 month old strapped on me...

there was fits and one night of sophia screaming for 4 hours. (?) and dinner times that are no longer long, extended, full of long stimulating conversation.

amazing feast

instead we think we are champions if we made it 40 minutes with claire and sophia.

so, yeah, our hearts are filled up with memories of bright wide eyes sparkling as she jumps into the pool. of baby chub in a adorable yellow swim suit. of rocking and singing tired babes to sleep. of watching a movie piled on a hotel room bed. of going on short walks to find sheep, horses, and goats. of mama and baba sitting on the porch late at night drinking in the mountain air and just getting to connect about our amazingly blessed life.