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Just Tuesday

 

 

 

 

Forgive the hipstamatic overload. I know. I know. But there are days when I want that softened sheen over everything. And it is so fun to play with.

Today was...nothing in particular. Just a work day. Just a summer day in Baltimore - hot and muggy. Thick with mosquitoes and moisture. Hot and unpleasant...but not hot enough or unpleasant enough to be worth discussing much.

So we walked to the river with our neighbor and stared for a while at our silhouettes and reflections. Jumped in some puddles. Enjoyed the low colors of august. Everything is wilting in the heat. There is more brown than there should be....but there are still colors everythwere.

Dinner was late - but healthy and made in a clean kitchen. I got to talk to a friend (a real live friend!) on the phone. It's the little stuff.

And with everything else going on in the world, it reminds me that we are so very, very lucky that this quiet little life is ours.

 

 

Saturday Adventures

Hangin' at the Car Wash

 

Lunch

 

The Red Swing

 

Off Duty

 

Things are pretty rough around the edges here. Alex isn't in any pain exactly....the problem is all the related emotional fall out from his broken leg. We are dealing with very very unsettled nights for everyone, some very out of character temper tantrums, full on shaking physical/emotional meltdowns over the tiniest thing and a constant need for Mama to do EVERYTHING.

I'm tired. I'm confused. I would be cranky if I didn't feel so bad for him.

I don't have the answers. It's hard to figure out what he needs. One part of me is desperate to make sure he doesn't get "spoiled". I have been very strict about keeping his please's and thank you's intact. His leg is broken - not his manners. I'm trying not to tolerate whining. But. But...his main outlet for his frustration right now is verbal. He usually expresses himself verbally and right now he hasn't got much else. Which means an unusual amount of whining, screaming, yelling, crying and demanding.

It isn't all bad. There is plenty of good. But our whole family rhythm is off. And that is hard.

Today I left Stephen to work and took the boys out of the house. Car wash (entertainment! and a clean car!), lunch out, a park visit (Alex managed more things than I though possible with his cast), a bookstore run, and finally landing, as we so often do, at the surrogate grandparents house.

Which is where my children are loved. And entertained. Where I can finally sit still. Talk and be heard. Listen and enjoy. Get good advice and feel everything settle a little.

And so, of course, in the middle of everything, I find - yet again - how very lucky and how very blessed we are.

Boat Ride

Wake

 

Working Boat

 

Whaleback Lighthouse

Luke.

 

Happy, Lucky Boys.