Scenes from a weekend

Andy took a much needed 9 days off from work.

The first few were filled with trips to Disneyland and the happy chaos of Christmas.

The next couple consisted of laying around, watching TV, and general do-nothingness.

But, we are a go, go, go kind of lot.  While sitting around has its place, we get fidgety after a while.  One night, while sitting at the computer, Andy asked if there were any projects I’d been wanting him to do.  Naturally, I made him look at every single thing I’ve ever pinned.  You know, for inspiration.

The next day, we were up and at ’em.  And while this happens to be from this last weekend, the truth is that this can be just about any weekend at our house.  This is what we do.  This is how we spend our time.  This is our family.

I posted a picture on Instagram of one of our projects, and for the second time in as many days, people said something like “How do you get all this stuff done?” or something about having lots of energy.

We get this stuff done because…well, we like to tinker.  Whether it is gardening, weeding, building, painting, cleaning, organizing.  Everyone outside is mandatory.  Hanging out.  And for us, this is our family culture.  This is a picture of a perfect day for the Gibsons.

Every year I can’t wait to put up Christmas decorations.  And every year, by about December 22nd, I start to feel overwhelmed by it.  Like I’m one glittered ball away from an episode of Hoarders.

Decorations were packed away.  The house is back to normal.  I feel like I can breathe again.

From the time they are babies, the kids hang out with us while we work.

They look like a ragamuffin pack of dirty, messy haired crazies…but that’s part of the fun.

At the end of a long day, Andy and I often laugh at how filthy they are, but we figure it’s a gauge for how much fun they had.  I don’t worry about how dirty they get.  How messy their hair is.  It’s just part of being a kid.  Although I often wonder what my neighbors think of my wild eyed lot.

Haphazard ponies and ripped jeans.

Scooting around the driveway while the Bigs wear circles into the cul-de-sac.

Princesses find the perfect toppings for their sawdust and rose petal cakes.

Neighbor kids congregate.

Wheels of all kinds assemble.

She insists on her purple slippers.  Because she adores them.  Sometimes, it’s really not worth fighting it.

The day is gorgeous with cotton candy clouds.  The air is brisk.  It feels good to be outside.

Daddies build scooter racks.  Two extra spaces patiently waiting to be filled someday.

Garages are emptied and refilled.  More organized thanks to the bike rack Andy made and some of these.

Babies bounce in the garage while we work.  Strategically left in jammies all day because they are cozy and it’s chilly by California standards.

Do you ever wonder what your kids will remember from their childhoods?  I often do.  Hoping they forget the times I lose my patience.  Hoping they remember the sweetness.

And this.  I have a feeling this will be a huge part of my children’s memories: Daddy at the workbench.  Making.  Building.  Fixing.  There is always a small pile of broken toys deposited by little hands with the hopes that Daddy can fix it over the weekend.

The K Love app playing for hours and hours in the background.  There was a day when that was Metallica…but little ears listen.  Little boys murmur along to the lyrics as they scooter around the neighborhood.  And Mommies and Daddies must adapt.  The older neighbor kids used to scrunch their nose and you could see their curiosity as they listened.  Now they don’t think twice at our music selection.  I like that.

Babies watch the hub bub from the garage floor.

Wild haired littles take breaks from their play to help.

I love that they ditch their friends for family time.

Toys and projects mingle.

Helpers make their way to and from our work.  Neighbor kids watch.

Product testers assess.

Boys wear helmets for hours.

Princesses with curls the color of wheat make mud pies.  From the safety of a kick board.

Brothers dig giant holes.  At one point, we had 6 other kids digging in the mud together.  I don’t know if their parents love us for keeping them occupied for hours or hate us for letting them play in the mud.  Oh well.

And then the mama sneaks in and throws together some Chicken Tortilla Soup.

To fill the bellies with warmth as the temperatures dip to the low 50’s outside.

Tummies fill.  Hot showers taken.  Cozy jammies worn.  And tired kiddles fall into their beds.  Clean.

After everyone was in bed, Andy remarked: “Today was a good day.  We needed one of these relaxing days.”

We worked hard.  My body hurt the next day.  We were exhausted.  Relaxing for us might look different.

But we love it.  This is our family.

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jeannett

I'm a mom to four. A wife to one. I believe in story. I love telling you about mine and would love to hear yours. There's really no sense in wasting our suffering and not sharing in each other's joy. We're all in this together...even if it doesn't always feel like it.

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