Easy living Part II

 

 

 

 

It's amazing how a few straight days of sunshine can bring about changes.

As evidenced by L's new tan lines, skin becomes a deeper, richer version of itself. And I notice a new freckle or mole almost daily on C's tender nose and the backs of his chubby hands.

All of the earth around us seems warmer. The sand at the beach gets quickly too hot for naked feet to touch. The sidewalk warms us on evening walks, even when the air has cooled at end of day. Our cats have taken to sprawling on sun-baked bricks on the wall of our patio instead of bathing in their usual indoor sun patches.

Sunny days start with optimism and end with exhaustion. No reasonable person can stay inside when the morning sky is dazzling blue at first light. For us, this means leaving home for mornings outdoors since our property does not include spaces to spread out under the sky. Little legs tackle multi-block journeys to our favorite parks and playgrounds. We tricycle around the block often and use our little patch of grass on the street corner to practice volleyball. We can't stay away from the beaches for long and the pool calls to us at least twice each week. We eat lunch on a lawn most days and we even keep breathing fresh air during rest time, with doors and windows open wide.

Then there are the soul-lifting properties of the sun. During the summer, it seems like anything is possible. Why not take a sunset drive with a cooler full of Popsicles after dinner? Let's plan another camping trip for next month. We even think L could learn to swim this summer after all, and C may be able to swing and hit a tossed baseball come September. I find myself journaling and snapping pictures day-in-day-out just to preserve the joy we're experiencing during this season.

Sure, there are temper tantrums and "Why aren't you listening to mama?" moments during every day, but it's easier to handle all of these under mostly sunny skies.