And then there were 3.

                                                               "I only have three children this week!" 

I literally thought I'd never make a declaration like that...and actually breath a sigh of relief along with it.  

It's true though. Evie is 2000 miles away in Chicago with my family (btw, having the time of her life...I know we will need a detox period because reality will hit hard again...) 

But, I'm enjoying time with my boys. 

And life is very different. 

I feel a little guilty admitting that things are easier this week. Life is simpler, and the days are less intense. I'm realizing that Evie's strong personality really changes the flow and dynamic of the household.

Obviously, Evie 100% completes our family. But the change in pace and energy is profound. 

 

One of the biggest differences in the house is due to the boys PLAYING with toys! This is a phenomenon that my little social girl won't do.  It's nice to have kids that are content and happy with simply playing at home. 

The boys are obsessed with trains. My mom got them a pretty big train table off craigslist when she was here and it's now the new centerpiece in the living room. 

While Evie is enjoying her time away, the boys have free reign on the entire house without anyone else's opinions getting in the way. 

They get to watch all their shows-Thomas the train, Bob the Builder and Sesame Street-without protest or challenge. 

Every activity and moment is focused on them instead of divided between two different ages and interests. 

I'm having fun with my boys.  And it makes me happy to know that Evie is enjoying her time with my family, in the place I grew up. 

 She is sleeping in my childhood bed, exploring my childhood yard and wandering through my home. It’s hard to believe that we are at that stage now when Evie is old enough and mature enough to go on excursions without me.

This is the photo that I received this afternoon of what she's been up to with her great-grandma.

The past month has been very different. I picked up my mom and Aunt Penny at the airport at the end on July. We spent the first few days going on adventures with the kids..to the zoo, farm, parks, fountains…It was good to spend time with my aunt, and it was good to have the extra help with the kids. 

However, after a few days, John and I packed our bags and we took off to San Fransisco to attend John's cousin's wedding. 

After having this many children, vacations look so different than they used to. When we were first married and in our early twenties, a vacation meant having every single minute packed with an activity or somewhere to go or do. Now, most of the first few hours of a vacation are spent joyfully holed up in our hotel room, half sleeping, half watching dumb TV. It's really quite wonderful to not be interrupted or needed or required to do anything. 

Another thing we love to do on our vacations now is share an afternoon afagato and people watch. I think the one we had in San Fransisco was truly the best afagato experience we've had yet. It was heavenly sitting on the pier in the sunshine.

Joy in a bowl

Another favorite activity on vacation is walking and exploring. We call it urban hiking because we love to venture/eat/drink our way through the city. We spent two days walking the hilly city and covered 14 miles. 

We wandered streets and neighborhoods, stopped, ate, drank and wandered some more. It was so refreshing to just have the day and not worry about nap schedules, or eating plans or bedtime routines. 

It's the small things!!

We spent a few hours in the red wood forest national park. I thought we had big trees in Oregon, but gazing up up up at those majestic monsters totally blew my mind. 

Twisting to the sky

 They live thousands of years. 

A cut away of one of the trees. Each ring represents a year of the tree's life. The labels indicate historical events, showing the significance of it's lifespan. (i.e.: the birth of Jesus is the one closest to the center...)

Although they live thousands of years, the trees eventually die, like everything else on this earth. However, from their death and the nutrients produced from their  fallen and decaying limbs, new life is able to grow and flourish.  Among the forest were "family circles", pods of smaller trees growing from the limbs of their ancestors. 

I love the analogy here, to life and of family. 

The wedding itself was gorgeous. John’s cousin married in the chapel at Standford. The reception was on the 34th floor of the St Francis Westin hotel overlooking Union Square. There were drinks, dancing, and evening gowns. It was a glamorous affair.

So elegant

Ready for an evening of fun

San Fransisco on the 34th floor

My mom stayed for 2.5 weeks.  When I drove her to the airport, it was strange to say "good-bye" to both her and Evie at the security line. My mom assured me she’d look after Evie like" she was her own daughter.”  I already knew this, but it was reassuring to hear her say it. 

Ready for a Chicago adventure with Grandma

The change in pace is nice; but I know I will definitely be ready to see our little girl next week!