a day at the park

The drive... I love the drive. I think I'm going to purposely pick places that are farther away, just so we can be in the car, the sunshine through the open windows, the smell of everything green drifting in and out, my babes in the backseat trying to sing along to whatever music we've chosen to accompany us down the road. This wasn't even that far away -- maybe twenty minutes at the most -- but I've been cooped up for the last few months and it's been wet and rainy, and this is exactly what my spirit needed.

(I feel like this is what all pictures of me look like... caught off guard, deer-in-the-headlights, compensating my surprise with an awkward half-smile. But, you know, I'm trying to, like, be in more pictures, or whatever.)

John packed lunch: really delicious sandwiches with ham, Colby cheese, spinach, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, avocado, pesto, mustard, and mayonnaise. Talk about a gourmet picnic!

The kids loved playing nearby while we ate. Poor Austen kept stumbling and scraping her knees. At one point she got a double-whammy, falling and then hitting her head on corner of the table on her way up! The inevitable parts of growing up.

I wish I could have taken a picture that showed the beauty of the park. I am not a great nature photographer, and to me this photo just looks like a jumbled mess... but it wasn't. The sun was setting and casting a glow through the trees, lighting up and darkening just the right places. It was quiet and warm... all things that can be captured by an adept photographer, but which I think is lacking in this photo below. Oh well, I tried, and you can use your imagination!

Little bits of life everywhere.

This was my favorite area. It couldn't have been more perfect. I'd like to get the kids dressed in cuter clothes and bring them back sometime this summer for pictures.

After lunch we drove down to the "beach." The water was ice cold but that didn't stop River! As usual, Austen was more reserved. They both had fun wading and finding stones to throw in the water.

A selfie with my husband... heh. :)

I think this is the most fun one can have as a human being. I told John if anyone heard me say that, they'd probably believe I was a pretty boring person, but here I am saying it on my blog, so I guess the truth is out now. To me, though, this is exactly what I want. I am never more content than when I am in nature, in good weather, under good sunshine, and with my family (eating good food). If I could spend every day of the rest of my life doing that, I'd be happy.