This morning while I making breakfast for the kids, Lydia insisted on turning off all of the lights (it's this thing that she's been doing lately. She just really, really, really likes when all the lights are off) so I opened the curtains on the sliding door. It's been nice outside lately. For a while, the inversion was so bad that it looked like there was fog outside, but it wasn't innocent little clouds - the inversion had just sunk so far that if you went outside you were literally walking in smog. But it's cleared up a bit. The other day we even went to the Farm to walk around and all we needed were some jackets and boots. The outdoors must have been calling to both kids because they stood by the door and just looked outside. They watched a train go by, and before I knew it - Lydia had the door open and was venturing outside. She was thrilled that she could be outside without her shoes on. I called her back in, but Austin was
not to be left out. He stood by the door, and grunted and whined and pointed. He convinced Lydia to crack the door and that's all he needed to pull it open and squeeze outside himself. I was covered in raw chicken because while breakfast was cooking, I was cutting up some chicken to freeze for meals this month. So he got all the way outside, down the stairs, and into our play structure on the back porch. He was thrilled. Lydia was equal parts nervous for Austin (shouting about her "precious baby") and excited that she had another excuse to be outside. It was a little crisp, but really not very cold.
I was tempted to let them play outside for a while, but breakfast was ready - and I thought that "good mom" would probably bring her pajama clad babies back inside. But already I was planning to make it back to the farm later today to take advantage of the chance to be outside.
Lydia went to preschool and the wind started howling. I had just put Austin down for a nap and I was upstairs when I heard the wind really pick up and rush past, rattling the house, and knocking over some unseen objects outside. I love the wind. Kind of scary, and thrilling, and makes me so grateful to be able to wrap up in a blanket inside my toasty house.
I still had plans to try to make it outside today.
But dark clouds just rolled in and the rain let loose! Pounding the windows and ground outside. I can even see a few pieces of hail mixed within all the giant rain drops. It's beautiful. And makes me want to cancel all plans that would take us away from our house so that we can just sit inside and watch the rain (or blog, whichever the case may be).
The weather today looks grim and grey, but it's brought so much happiness to my little life. In all honesty, yesterday wasn't the greatest day. I was far from the mother that I want to be. The mom that jumped out when irritated, matched the yuckiness of the inversion outside. But the weather outside, as well as many heartfelt prayers, seem to be clearing my heart and helping me focus on the two little people who my world revolves around.
So today, rain and wind. Thank you for visiting us. Please blow and pour to your hearts content... and take the inversion away with you when you leave!
