36

Two weeks ago today I turned 36.

Ever since I turned 22 I haven't liked my birthday very much. The growing older, the more responsibility, the growing older, the let down after the amazingness of birthdays when I was young, the growing older ....

Okay, okay, okay - I know that I'm not old. I get that. I'm in the prime of life actually. And this year I finally fully felt that way. My expectations for life are shifting slightly. I am so Type A in all that I do. But having four kids changes that a bit. Don't get me wrong, I think Type A helps me to parent four children. (Sleep schedule anyone? The only reason I lack sleep is because I choose to stay up too late at night.) But having four children keeps me from being too Type A.

Our days are fluid. While we have an overall schedule we follow I have learned to let go of the minutes. My stay-at-home-mom's schedule looks markedly different than my previous go-to-work schedule. Our lives do not run on school bells and I get more done before 8:00 a.m. and after 8:00 p.m. then I probably ever did when I was working outside of the home. That is hard for me. It has definitely been a hard transition. Our society dictates what is "work" and what is "not work". I'm not trying to say that one is better than the other. I am trying to illustrate that both paths are different. Drastically different. Incomparable. 

I'll get off my soap box now.

My main observation is this:

I am happy. I am happy with the flow of our lives right now. The ups, the downs, the rushed time, the calm time. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Birthday #36 was a perfect time for me to reflect.

Every day Russell illustrates to me how boys are just different
than girls. I can guarantee that neither of my girls ever tried to ride
a trike on a narrow, elevated walk wall. Granted, it's not that tall
..... but still.

We headed to Hell's Gate with sub sandwiches and chips from Winco to have a quiet Thursday evening dinner. There really were no other people there and the weather was perfect. 

It. Was. Wonderful.

Ethan has started finger feeding. He was quite content to stay put on
the blanket and enjoy his Puffs.

The three older kids are all to ages where they can play independently from
grown ups and just with each other. So much easier when you
are trying to relax.

We took their bikes down so they could get a different view than just
our block. Illustration #2 for the day of how boys differ from girls.
Russell found a slight incline at the top of the path near the parking
lot. After Bob came out of cardiac arrest and figured out that he
wasn't trying to ride to certain collision with a car we just sat back and
watched. He would waddle himself up to the parking lot, push off, lift his
legs and coast back to where we were sitting. I just see the wheels in his head
turning and exploring in a very different way than the girls. I am
almost (but not quite) dreading the time when he and Ethan put their
little heads together to dream up adventures.

The girls are to the age where they can play by the water all by themselves.
I am far away at this point. My camera being zoomed in almost as far as it
can go. But I know that they won't try to swim/wade/drown themselves if
I'm not right there. I'm sure Russell would have tried to swim to Asotin at this
point. (But he was busy coasting.)

Ethan has the most expressive face. This is his "smug" look.
"Look. I'm at the table. Just like I wanted. Ha!"

Last Saturday night we dropped off the kids with Grandma & Grandpa and headed out to Lindsey Creek Vineyards for Amy (Norgaard) and Mike Grow's wedding. It was a lovely evening.

#itsgrowtime

I think this picture captures me at 36 perfectly.