I hate to be a glass half-empty type of gal, but things have been so wonderful up here in our new surroundings that I keep wondering when the bubble is going to burst and we'll be unhappy about something. I guess it has to happen sooner or later, so I should just enjoy this little happy bubble we're living in now. Life is good.
I don't think many people in life get the opportunity to live in exactly the type of community and environment that they've always dreamed of, but I feel like we are living our dream life. Its not just the community, which is friendly and liberal, but its this amazing house we live in, which is surrounded by more trails that I know what to do with. The house is beyond my wildest expectations for a place I could hope to live, not because of its size, but rather because of its history and its location in the woods and the fact that the kids absolutely adore it here. In some strange ways it feels like we've known this house forever, even though we've only been here several weeks. We've become such different people in the short time we've been here, and the best thing is that we are engaging with our kids in a way we've never engaged with them before. These nightly walks that we take with them, coupled with the fact that we haven't had a tv to rely on when we are too tired to deal with them changes the dynamics of our relationship with them in so many ways. And, I'm getting to spend so much more time with them than I did when I was going into work five days/week. I get to take them to swimming and gymnastics, and we also all just have so much time to spend together doing nothing but hanging out outside, or going to Kim's work to soccer games or whatever.
This weekend was particularly great because my parents came up on Saturday and we got to take them to a few of our favorite places in Amherst, including Atkins Farms and the Amherst farmer's market/craft fair. It was an absolutely perfect fall day, and we had a great time with mom and dad (mostly eating all day!). My parents bought us a beautiful picture of a nature scene in Amherst taken by a professional nature photographer who is the father of one of Ella's kindergarten classmates. Later in the day, some friends and their kids came over to our house for dinner and play, and the kids had a delightful time running through all seven floors of the house (or at least it seemed that big to them).
Today was a bit more laid back, as it rained all day. Both the girls took late afternoon naps, but we also all went to Northampton and did some swimming and had some yummy mid-afternoon donuts. We wrapped up the evening with our wonderful after-dinner walk, as we try to get out each night and look for frogs. I think tonight the kids must have walked at least a mile in our evening walk, and I'm really so proud of them and how much they love nature and love exploring.
To close, here's a few fun pictures of Maisie. I wanted to capture her little spirited and mischievous self, and I think I did that in these pictures.
Sounds like you are living the life you were meant to live all along! It certainly suits you all! When you are happy in your community and in your environment, there is no happier place to be.
Posted by: Kris | September 28, 2009 at 08:49 PM