Sharing A Special Afternoon

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I don't know about you but sometimes routine starts to get on my nerves.
Having both kids in school has set in motion a routine that I'm not used to.
Picking them both up, fixing a snack, helping with homework, cooking dinner, starting showers, reading stories, lights out ... it's the same. Day after day after day.
Sometimes I just need something different !!!!!!

Yesterday was that day.

After school, we came home, got changed, packed a bag and headed out on an 'outing'. We found a lovely little spot, halfway down a flight of stairs to one of our favorite beaches. We spread out a picnic blanket, shared a packet of salt and vinegar rice crackers and spent an hour or so sketching and taking photos before making out way down to the rocks to explore.

Jono said to me, while we were sitting, eating our snack.
"This is great. I love the water. The sound ...." and he let his thoughts drift off as we listened.
I was so proud of him.
He's such a perceptive and appreciate seven year old.
At one point in the afternoon, he called the ocean magnificent !

Alia decided that she couldn't draw and refused to even try for a while. Never one to let them say they can't do something, I kept encouraging her to give it a go and (to my surprise) she ended up changing her mind and doing some great little sketches !

It was such a nice change from our normal routine. I was thinking as we were leaving that I need to be more diligent in doing this sort of stuff with the kids on a regular basis.

Exploring.



Wondering. Marveling. Admiring.



Getting lost in the beauty. The serenity.



Feeling the cool breezes. Splashing in the water. Finding treasures.



Just being us. Together.

Peacefully.

I enjoyed it.

They enjoyed it.

We can't wait to do it again ...