Embracing small moments (part 1)

On a whim a few Sundays ago, we decided to head over to a nearby park for a bit of family fun time. Unlike their mother, the little rebels all love to ride on paddle-boats. The fact that mommy does not presents a small problem. Only four are permitted on each boat and obviously, the children are not old enough to go alone.

The solution is simple really.

Turn taking.

Daddy takes some kiddos out for an hour, then back to take the others out for an hour. This means Daddy spends two hours on the lake and Mommy spends two hours walking around in the hot sun trying to occupy those not on the boat.

Honestly, I was cranky.

I wanted a nap.

I did NOT want to walk around the park in the heat.

I do not like the heat.

Have I mentioned it was hot?

I griped a bit, then pulled up my bootstraps and we headed out.

I lathered everyone up with sunscreen, waved as the first crew pedaled away from the dock and then headed to the air conditioned nature center.

We spent a bit of time in the nature center, until they closed and then it was back out to the heat.

We had fun checking out the critters...snakes, turtles, lizards and the like. Despite it being hot, it really was mostly an enjoyable time with Jerald and Parker.

Soon enough the hour passed and we headed back down to the boats to switch the crew around. That meant for the second hour, I would get to spend my time walking around with Magdalyn and Aaron.

The nature center was now closed, so no more trips to an air conditioned building. Waaahhh.

Aaron was really tired, hot and the downward spiral towards a tantrum was fast approaching. Although, I'm not sure which of us would hit the tantrum point first.

I decided we'd go walk one of the trails, which was mostly shaded. This would at least keep us busy and moving, which would hopefully make the time seem to go faster.

Plans changed quickly when I stepped onto uneven ground and twisted my ankle. Although the nature center building was closed, there is a large covered outdoor deck area with tables and chairs. I was able to hobble over there and plop into a chair while I tried to figure out what to do next. It was soon clear that I was not going to be walking anywhere for a bit, I couldn't even stand without excruciating pain. (yes, I want your sympathy)

Changing the plan caused that freight train full of tantrum to speed up a bit.

Always the quick thinker, Mag saved the day. She pulled out the camera from the diaper bag. Aaron currently LOVES taking pictures and getting his picture taken. By loves, I mean it's sort of an obsession for him these days.

As much as he loves to have his picture taken, he often prefers the pictures to be just of himself. Many of the pictures where we do convince him to pose with others end up not turning out so well for various reasons.

I decided to "push my luck" a bit and see if I could get him to sit with me to let Mag get a picture of us together. I am often the picture taker and am not in nearly enough pics with my kiddos.

I am not always successful, but I've really been making an effort to embrace small moments. To find joy despite situations, to laugh more, hug more and just enjoy life more.

I'm not glad to have twisted my ankle (which is mostly fine now, so no more sympathy needed), but I am glad that it was a little nudge to stop and seize the moment.

If I hadn't twisted it, we would have just walked around the trail for an hour, probably all of us complaining it was hot and we were tired.

Sometimes, changed plans are a good thing...even if we don't necessarily think so.

I'll gladly give up my Sunday afternoon nap again to get a picture like this: