Kiddos, coffee and culture ..

Here we are in August already. Summer is simply flying by.
I remember being a kid and the long, felt like forever summer days. Now I see that in my own kiddos. Just carefree ...

Our past couple of weeks have been anything but normal. I have been on my own with the kiddos because of an extended business trip. So I purposely did not schedule any shoots or work of my own, and thought we'd just have fun.
Our two week venture took us on a road trip to stay with my sister-in-law. She and her family live in a great area, a quiet neighborhood that sits on a park, yet within minutes has city access. I love our visits. Pie and Bub got to hang out with their cousins, and I got to soak in the atmosphere ... the culture.
I love our sleepy little town ... it's a great place for the kiddos ... but I do miss some of the culture a city has to offer. So I do so enjoy our little get-a-ways.

(ice cream stop while wandering around the city with Pie, Bub and their cousins)

Good food, good shopping (not that I bought anything, but I love to look!), great bookstores, and of course, my favorite coffee.

I spent a lot of time in the park. The kids loved playing there and wanted to spend as much time there as possible. So we did. Some of the time I joined in on the play and at others I quietly sat and watched.

Some times its nice to just sit quietly (and I don't get the opportunity that often), to clear your mind, gain perspective. Meditate so to speak. That is something I lose sight of ever so often as I get caught up with things that truly are not that important. Stress finds it way in ... and a vicious cycle is created. I can get caught up in time and lack of time, whether its tasks that have to be accomplished or projects I want to accomplish. For me, time constraints (whether I put them on myself or they truly exist) can start stress cycle that is nearly paralysing. My mind goes from one thing to the next and I find it hard to concentrate and truly do anything.
Quietness ... even a few moments, produces such a peaceful heart, mind and soul.

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart." - Confucius

Take in each moment fully for what it is.

The ice cream truck arrived at the park and the kiddos went wild. The park cleared and a line formed. The only problem was no one, including me, had any money in their pockets. But before I knew it Bub ran back to his cousins house and returned with his wallet. Not mine, his. He ordered ice creams (Choco Tacos and Ice Cream Sandwiches) for all of his cousins and spent $13 of his $14 dollars doing so.

After a week away it was time to come home. Yet we still had a week to go on our own. So we bought two cousins back home from their stay as well, and one cousin back to stay with us for the week. For the most part I let the kids dictate what we did.

Another crazy week ...