reclaiming sundays... carefree and clothes free

Sometimes life feels like a runaway train and it takes everything from within to make a stand for slowing things down.

Raising kids is like that.

Regardless of jobs and deadlines and finances and responsibilities, just being a parent seems to propel life into fast forward. With each new milestone, developmental leap, and growth spurt the passing of time is amplified.

And so is the challenge of slowing things down, which is why I'm thrilled to say that our last few Sundays have looked a lot like this:

Sun, grass, a cheap wading pool, a garden hose, tall glasses of ice water, thrown together plates of cheese and cracker snacks, sticky, juicy orange slices, lounge chairs, sunscreen, floppy hats, a well-loved swing set, and sweet, mellow playlists providing the perfect soundtrack to the unfolding joy.

They have been lazy; they have been perfect.

No one straining to finish a project. No one sweating to cross things off the list. No one stressing to get one last errand in before the shops close.

Just resting, refreshing, relishing, enjoying.

But one of the best things about this time--these days--of our lives is this:

Little boys with bare naked bums.

I know if I'm not careful I'll blink and Levi will be too grown-up to run around the backyard naked without a care in the world.

So for now, we're savoring these days. Carefree and clothes free.

Life is good.

Dear friends, what are you savoring these days?


love,

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Are you pregnant? Link up with the Bloggin' Babes and Babies of 2011.

Share your creativity and Easter inspiration by submitting your Easter card to our Easter card linky (closing April 21).

This post is part of my Reclaiming Sundays project - an intentional effort to carve out family time every week to rest, refresh, breathe, laugh, relax, enjoy... Please feel free to join me if you'd like.

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2011
do not reproduce without written permission

reclaiming sundays... with beans and a side of enchilada

Our last couple of Sundays have been rainy. Not just the skies-are-gray-things-are-a-bit-wet type of rainy... but more of an I-just-might-drown-trying-to-get-from-my-house-to-my-car type of rainy.

Relentless pounding tropical downpour.

Although Oregon is thought of as a state that is constantly wet, I'm from a very dry area in central Oregon, where we typically get 6-12 inches of rain per year. I don't even remember owning a raincoat or umbrella for most of my life.

And then I moved to the tropics.

Here during the wet season we can easily get my hometown's entire annual rainfall in a single afternoon. {I am soooo not exaggerating.}

Sunday was one of those days.

But, regardless of the elements being pitted against us, we had already decided that we were going out to celebrate Ryan's birthday at a local wanna-be-Mexican restaurant (the closest the Aussies can get to Mexican at least), and so we scooped up our little and headed in search of ribs (for Ryan) and a burrito (for me).

Much to my dismay the restaurant had quit serving burritos. Yes, you read that right - a Mexican restaurant with no burritos. (Remember friends, we are talking Australian-Mexican food here.)

So instead I got the enchiladas.

To my shock and horror I was delivered a giant plate with ONE enchilada surrounded by two massive side dishes - beans on one side and lettuce on the other. My measly lone enchilada was nearly lost in that sea of lettuce and beans.

Now before you feel too sorry for me let me remind you that this occasion was not about me. (Keep in mind how hard it is for a pregnant woman to acknowledge this when it comes to anything food-related!)

Thankfully my enchilada (singular) was tasty... but far more importantly, Ryan's huge order of ribs was absolutely delish. Levi munched on bits of our meals and was happy bopping along in his highchair to the cheesy Video Hits that played in the background. But the best part of the meal was the end - just watching my boy love his daddy and my man love his son.

They are such a great pair.

Soaking wet and still hungry or not... there's no better way to spend a Sunday than with the ones I love most.

Dear friends, have you had some good family time this week? I dare you to be deliberate about making it happen.

estoy alegre,

Note: You can read my original post with more of what this is all about here. If you'd like to grab the Reclaiming Sundays button and join in with our family's quest to make some more time for rest in our busy lives, then please feel free. (And remember, your "Sundays" don't have to literally be on Sundays... any old day will do, as long as it's deliberate.) Make sure to leave me your link so I can visit!

<a href="http://www.themommyhoodmemos.com" target="_blank"><img alt="The Mommyhood Memos" src="http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m223/adrielmc/reclaimingsundaysbuttonimagesize200.jpg" /></a>
(And don't worry, the button will display on your blog as a normal button size!)

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2011 

do not reproduce without written permission

reclaiming sundays... with mud and sticks

One of the perks of our work is that we get to take students camping a couple of times a year for lectures "in the bush". Imagine 200+ people in the middle of nowhere. We're talking massive bonfires, a sprawling tent city, long lines for the one toilet and shower (per gender), a trailer full of food, gas BBQs for cooking, and three generator-powered refrigerators.

Oh, and a make-shift classroom in a huge shed near the edge of the paddock.

It's madness.

And it's so. much. fun.

So last weekend, we had an amazing day "reclaiming Sunday"... on our day off up there in the bush: Monday.


It was a great time for being half-dressed and playing the drums on a log...

For stick hunting with little friends...

For chasing after very large bulls who kept roaming through "our" field...

For eating stuff...

For getting our hands dirty... along with everything else...

And of course for bucket baths (that baby used to actually fit in!)...

And cool hair-dos... 

... cuz being clean is the perfect way to end a rock-sorting, stick-pounding, grass-rubbing, bull-chasing, terrain-exploring, fresh air-enjoying sort of day.

And now that we're back all shiny and clean in our lovely home with electricity and phone service and one shower per three people... I'm kicking myself for not being more deliberate about taking photos that include a little more of Ryan and I. (I did get a few less than impressive ones.) 

But rest assured, Levi isn't the only one that had a great time.

Oh camping, how we love thee... rain, mud, dirt, gray skies, and all.

Dear friends, it was fun to have our "Sunday" on Monday this week and get to spend time with friends enjoying the Aussie bush. What have you done this week to be deliberate about making family time to rest and refresh and just have some plain-old fun?

home now... clean and rested,

Note: You can read my original post with more of what this is all about here. If you'd like to grab the Reclaiming Sundays button and join in with our family's quest to make some more time for rest in our busy lives, then please feel free. (And remember, your "Sundays" don't have to literally be on Sundays... any old day will do, as long as it's deliberate.) Make sure to leave me your link so I can visit!

<a href="http://www.themommyhoodmemos.com" target="_blank"><img alt="The Mommyhood Memos" src="http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m223/adrielmc/reclaimingsundaysbuttonimagesize200.jpg" /></a>
(And don't worry, the button will display on your blog as a normal button size!:)

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2011 
do not reproduce without written permission

reclaiming sundays... with sunnies

So, my husband has been teaching Levi to wear sunglasses... to actually keep them on his face. And to my surprise, he's been very successful.

I'm dumbfounded every time I see these chubby little cheeks and button nose with mini aviator sunnies perched on top.

This last Sunday we spent the afternoon at one of our local parks.

One of the perks to living in such a hot, humid (read: sometimes miserable) climate are the free water parks and pools that are open to the public. (Apparently they have to give us some sort of incentive to live here!)

This is one of our favorites - the Riverway.

There are five different pool areas including a normal pool, a lap pool, a "lagoon", a (cold) spa, and a kiddie pool. There are free gas BBQs scattered around the place and lots of grass for picnics and games.

There are also a couple of different playgrounds and a huge bike and walking path that spans the river for miles.

It really is a wonderful place.

I'm grateful to have such amazing facilities close to us and available to us without even having to spend any money. We enjoyed a lovely Sunday together as a family... and so far, we're doing well at our quest to Reclaim Sundays.

Dear friends, were you able to take a break this weekend? What did you get up to?

lovin my sundays more than ever,

P.S. We're camping at the moment, so if I don't respond to comments and emails right away... that's why. No phones or internet for me!

Note: You can read my original post with more of what this is all about here. If you'd like to grab the Reclaiming Sundays button and join in with our family's quest to make some more time for rest in our busy lives, then please feel free. Make sure you leave me your link so I can come see and be inspired by what your family is doing. (And remember, your "Sundays" don't have to literally be on Sundays... any old day will do, as long as it's deliberate.) 

<a href="http://www.themommyhoodmemos.com" target="_blank"><img alt="The Mommyhood Memos" src="http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m223/adrielmc/reclaimingsundaysbuttonimagesize200.jpg" /></a>
(And don't worry, the button will display on your blog much smaller than the image above!:)

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2011 
do not reproduce without written permission

reclaiming sundays... with ice cream

A family quest to rest, refresh, enjoy, live... a little bit more. That's what Reclaiming Sundays is all about.

And so, we've begun to take back our Sundays and be just a little more intentional about   s l o w i n g   d o w n  and enjoying our family and friends and life. in. general.

Scheduled rest. Scheduled fun. Scheduled time for something... or nothing... or whatever sets our hearts at peace.

It only made sense to set the bar high: sun, sand, swimming... and ice cream. Oh, Sunday afternoon ice cream, where have you been all my life?

I think I could get used to this quickly.

Dear friends, what did you do this weekend to stop and enjoy life a little bit more?

learning to rest... more,

P.S. You can read my original post with more of what this is all about here. If you'd like to grab the Reclaiming Sundays button and join in with our family's quest to make some more time for rest in our busy lives, then please feel free. Make sure you leave me your link so I can come see and be inspired by what your family is doing. (And remember, your "Sundays" don't have to literally be on Sundays... any old day will do, as long as it's deliberate.) *BIGsigh*

<a href="http://www.themommyhoodmemos.com" target="_blank"><img alt="The Mommyhood Memos" src="http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m223/adrielmc/reclaimingsundaysbuttonimagesize200.jpg" /></a>
(And don't worry, the button will display on your blog much smaller than the image above!:)

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2011
do not reproduce without written permission

wonder

I was looking through my photos from our Christmas holiday in Oregon so far, and as I paused at this one I immediately thought of the word WONDER.

What must have been going through little Levi’s mind as he held glowing bits of light between his fingertips? WONDER.

And when is the last time that I let myself be childlike in my own thinking?

I’m not talking about being childish here—as in immature—I’m talking about being childlike...

Able to suspend my to-do’s and agendas long enough to just be in the moment, caught up in whatever beauty is before me.

Able to discover and question and find joy in simple things.

Able to love unabashedly. Laugh without restraint. Be free of self-consciousness, self-doubt, or self-criticism.

Able to believe whole-heartedly, cry unashamedly, and trust completely.

I have moments of being able to live with a child-like simplicity. But they are only moments.

Far too often my rationale gets in the way. My sense of responsibility. My need to be “right” or do things “just right”. My consideration of others perceptions of me. My desire to have order. My tendency to plan and predict and predetermine.

And although none of those things are wrong… they can get in the way of living if I’m not careful.

I’ve had many of these “wonder” moments lately—being on holiday helps—but I’m not satisfied. I want more.

Thank you, little Levi, for helping mama to remember that it’s important to wonder.

Dear friends, how are you keeping the WONDER in life this Christmas season?

stopping to wonder,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

just what the doctor ordered

My house is immaculate. I kid you not.

The only way it could get cleaner is if the windows were washed and someone straightened up all the cans in the cupboard “While You Were Sleeping” style.

Thanks to two weeks worth of planning and some help from my fabulous husband and my amazing friend Kate, it’s the cleanest it’s been in…

Ever.

And it will stay like that… because we’re not there to mess it up.

Glory.

Our friends’ parents are flying in from overseas for three weeks at Christmas and we’ve offered for them to stay in our place. What fun it is to know that while we are off enjoying holidays, someone else is enjoying their own holidays thanks—albeit in small part—to us). I like that.

Speaking of holidays, I was at the doctor the other day for some silly pains and minor ailments (oh, and my sore throat/golf balls) and she asked me how I was doing. I mean, how I was doing. I thought right then and there she was going to break out into a therapy session. She just had that tone combined with the slight I-feel-your-pain-why-don’t-you-tell-me-how-you-feel look on her face.

I told her I was pretty much fine—which is completely true—and she proceeded to tell me that I am underweight (hello, breastfeeding?), and that I am exhausted looking and basically just seem run-down.

Yes, my dear sweet doctor said that I looked like a train wreck. Except that she didn’t actually use those words. She sounded much more doctor-like and… professional. But I know that’s what she was thinking.

Thanks. A lot.

I wanted to tell her that maybe it’s just that I had not had a chance to put on any make-up yet that day. Or that it’s been really humid and I’ve had a string of more-than-bad hair days. Or that it was Levi’s fault for sucking all of the fat right out through my boobs.

Surely I didn’t look as bad as she said I did.

But I knew she was right. I haven’t felt or looked very energetic or fresh lately. Blech.

From there dear Doctor Wise One wrote me a prescription for a long holiday, when—to her delight—I told her I was already in the process of packing my bags and heading out with my two favourite boys two days later.

Just what the doctor ordered. (Thank you Australia for paying our doctors to give us good advice – I’d like to be sent on holidays a little more often even. Maybe you should give them a pay rise?)

In all seriousness though, my doctor then told me to come back to check in with her in the new year, and that she expects me to be looking fabulous and well-rested. She included in her prescription that I’m not allowed to “help people” or try to get work done while away.

This is what I heard: sleep in every day until 10:00am, gorge myself on American food (ok, Mexican food), and spend my days transferring between the hot tub and the couch catching up on The Office, Modern Family, and every single Christmas movie I can get my hands on. And then read those twelve books that are all half finished. Oh, and I’m not allowed to do any dishes. Or laundry. Or anything that involves a spray bottle.

Well maybe my holiday won’t look much like that. But I guarantee you it will include several burritos, It’s a Wonderful Life, and even perhaps a few daytime naps.

And I should probably get some peanut M&M's. Because, you know, my doctor said so.

Holidays, here we come. In fact, holidays, here we are. You are most welcome in my life.

Dear friends, when is the last time you planned on having a true break? Or when is the next time?

on my way to stock up the reserves a little,