This Monday started off in solid Monday fashion, with everyone forgetting how to behave during the week. Kevin ran out the door with "I'm running late, I'll probably miss the bus, see you later" over his shoulder. Thomas came into the bed and anagonized Mary just by his existence. Everyone started a board game on the FLOOR where ANNA CRAWLS and then complained that she was there. Breakfast was somewhat late.
So: time to make cookies.
This was that moment when you think "is this recipe turning out, or did I just waste a pound of butter?" (Spoiler alert: these made some great shortbread cookies. Round 1 were chocolate dipped. Round 2 might be jam filled.)
Later, after some school work, the big kids returned to playing games. Here, they're playing a Chumash stick dice game. Players toss the sticks onto ground and win points depending upon how many designed stick faces show. Peter asked if it could go on forever. "No, it won't," I assured him. "Actually, it doesn't ever have to end. It could go on forever," he replied. Obviously he's a probabilist's son with a developed sense of the difference between "possible" and "probable."
Lucy has requested a fishtail braid for months, a request I have put off because her hair isn't long enough. It's still not quite long enough, but with my patience and her low expectations, I was able to give her one. Every time I braid my daughter's hair I think of the times I'd ask my mother to style my hair and the times she'd refuse. (And when she did style my hair, I'd always take it out. There might be a causal relationship here.) For some reason, I have equated French braiding Lucy's hair with Six Sigma mothering.
The big kids and Mary headed off to gym, leaving Anna and me behind. Typically, I spend this time trolling YouTube videos for fishtail braid how-tos (and other matters of dubious educational quality), but today I decided to get out for a walk. Anna has been sleeping like a coked-up howler monkey (read: not good), but I had a suspicion she could be coaxed into a nap if the conditions were right.
Like this view while cruising in the stroller! Technically she missed out on the view, as she had fallen into a beautiful sleep, but I didn't mind the views or listening to a podcast without interruption. Getting out and seeing the beautiful area we live is vital to remembering why we live here. I can walk ten minutes and find the bay, the sand dunes, and the hint of ocean air.
I wanted to explore around this grove of eucalyptus trees, but as I'd stopped pushing the stroller, Anna woke up, For the first time in a few years, I had the thrill of carrying the baby while pushing her stroller. Living the dream!
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