Together Time

We are a family that spends a lot of time together.
That has a lot to do with the fact that JC and I feel strongly about the importance of family unity. A real, solid family unity based on real, solid things and not simply snapshots over the course of time or empty traditions. Real family relationships built on all the good stuff. Brought into play in our lives by time together.
I am very serious about that.
But I also realize it has a lot to do with the fact that there aren't a lot of other players in the game at this point. We don't have to make rules about when we can play with friends or when it is time for just family. Because the kids aren't at a point where that is an issue. We don't have to figure out how to pick and choose our family activities because, at this point, we just don't have many. At this phase of our lives, together time is kind of a constant.
Nevertheless.
For all the reasons it exists, deliberate or not, family time is a fun time.

We chase.
Outdoors whenever possible.

We splash.
Very much outdoors whenever possible.

We wrestle.

We play sports.
This is a new development. We are still learning.

Particularly about how to be a good sport when we are not as skilled, YET, as we would like to be. And how not to throw tantrums every time we miss the basket.
This is where a little talk from Dad about sports and games and their place in our lives comes in.

We are getting the hang of it.
(Notice James in the background still upset)

Good thing he tried again.

We build things.

Lately, we have been building a lot in the garden. Bethany was using the scraps to create her own little something.

We relax with a movie at the end of a long hot day of building.
(I am collapsed in the bean bag and Bethany is brushing my hair. So nice.)

We steal Mom's camera while she is zonked out on the bean bag at the end of a long day.

We make our way up these concrete steps several times a day.
To make sure we're not missing anything in the backyard.
Sometimes as pirates.

We swing.
While we still can.
It is getting hot, you know. And pretty soon, by 8am every day, those swings will be too hot to touch.
It is a sad reality.
Swing, Ben, swing to your heart's content while you still can!

It is great to spend so much time together as a family. It feels like such a blessing. I feel crazy busy most of the time, but it is more about trying to stay on top of things around here and keep everyone's needs met. The scrambling that happens out in the world doesn't permeate our home and I love it that way. We look forward to years ahead, with deliberate effort to be very selective in what we involve ourselves in, what we make a part of our lives, attempting to maintain the kind of life flow we enjoy at this point in time.
Things are kind of crazy out there. And a lot of it is good crazy! But we know that the very best busy and the very best crazy will always happen within the walls of our own home!
I can't wait to see what it looks like in five years!
(I also can't wait to see what it looks like this summer...the chore charts are coming out BIG TIME. I am already starting to prep the kids with jobs here and there but...they have school and preschool and they need plenty of time to play. Once the summer rolls around, we will have lots of time to work AND play. It's going to be GOOD.)