At This Moment
I am sitting in my favorite chair with sand in my toes and shells in my pockets. My kids have sand in their toes too. They’re curled up on the couch bundled in towels and sipping hot chocolate.
We just got back from the beach.
I decided to do away with today’s tasks and enjoy some time with my kids. Without having to look at laundry baskets or feel the tug of daily to-dos. I left my camera at home along with everything but my flip flops and some towels. Sometimes I just know when it’s time to set it all down and just observe.
We made the few minute drive over to the beach and took in some sun, breeze and salt water. While I laid in the sand looking on, the kids chased birds, dug holes in the sand, made sand mountains and picked up oodles of sea shells. They yelled and giggled and threw themselves into the sand over and over. They chased each other and held hands while walking to the water. They threw sand in each others’ hair. All the while, I sat on a cool November afternoon hugging my sweatshirt closer to me to stay warm while they were blissfully ignorant about the cool afternoon in the water and sand.
I watched the waves crash, sifted my fingers through the sand and collected my own sea shells. I quietly looked on at my children having a totally carefree time together. And I was there when they’d make their occasional trips over to me to show me handfuls of shells, fistfuls of sand or just to get a hug. I watched on as they pointed out airplanes flying overhead or checked to make sure I saw all 374 birds that flew by.
When it was time to go, they dumped their things into our beach bag, along with a lot of sand and shells and we headed back home.
Here we sit, sand still shaking off us when we move. Bundled to warm up. Checking out the shells we brought home and comparing their colors and sizes. And I could not feel happier.
It would take more than a sweatshirt to keep us warm this time of year at the beach, so I am suffering from beach envy right now! What a lovely day you had! So proud of you for keeping priorities straight, that is inspiring. I went out to lunch with hubby today, in spite of the ginormous to do list I have.
Sometimes you just have to say enough is enough.
Happy day,
Melissa
melissa @ the inspired rooms last blog post..Joy of the Kitchen: Holiday Meal Planning
That’s what it’s all about.
We are THAT familys last blog post..My Frugal & Festive Holiday Tips
you will love looking back and reading this post some day. Your kids won’t need a picture to remember this day - it will be engrained in their hearts forever!!
Denises last blog post..Adventures in Bread Making - Part 2
delightful day and truely simple living - I’mboing to link back - this is worth sharing …. le
les last blog post..Posting at the Peas - Marketing in a Frugal World
Lovely, Emily. Just lovely.
Writer Dads last blog post..Soaring
Sounds like a beautifully perfect day Emily!
Sounds heavenly Emily! I love the feel of sand between my toes
Marelisas last blog post..100 Essential Life Lessons
Emily, the beach is one of our favorite places. Unfortunately it’s mostly just a summer activity for us, but we get the most out of it!
Vintage Mommys last blog post..Holidays by Hand: My Papercraft Experiment
Great to leave the camera behind and ‘just observe’ as you say. Must do that more often.
Megans last blog post..Halloween Scots-style
Good stuff.
[...] visiting a historic site or taking time out to go to the beach for a date with my daughter or for an afternoon escape with both kids to play, it’s always good to remember that frugal fun for me and the kids can involve simply enjoying [...]
Ah….as you bask in the sun drenched beach…we giggle with delight in the final leaves, blanketing the fall fields…the cool winds blowing in our faces as we carry the last of the pumpkins….and bring in the mounds of hay. The corn stalks crunch with a sound that ushers in the soon approaching winter…and we love it!
What a great post, Emily. I linked to it from my post today.
Thanks!
Kimba @ A Soft Place to Lands last blog post..Simply Saturday
Wow-you are a talented writer. I thoroughly enjoyed your ideas. I couldn’t agree with you more. Sometimes, us moms just need to sit back and observe.
thanks for the break. Please, come by and say hello. Love to make new friends!
taushas last blog post..Here from Arizona
Came via Kimba…we are all vicariously living through you as we comment.
Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlams last blog post..Cleaning Coupons for Everyone!
You must be a Florida girl like me! I live near the beach too and just love it’s beauty and peacefulness. Sometimes it only takes a trip down to the beach to set things right. You see, I’m a born and raised Florida girl and the salt water runs in my veins. This is a sweet post about your children. I can tell that they are well loved. Glad you had a day of peace and fun.
p.s. found you via kimba
Sunnys last blog post..In The Words of…