Firsts and Lasts

Yesterday my children and I celebrated the first official day of Summer vacation in grand style. We took a picnic lunch to a nearby riverside park. Spontaneously we decided to walk along the river trail for a while and wound up at an ice cream shop. Along the way we spotted a beaver, a family of turtles sunning and a baby turtle swimming, fish and various squirrels and birds. 

After refreshing ourselves with ice cream we kept walking until we reached our local library. We stopped off for a Skippyjon Jones story and then made the return trek to the car. A wild blackberry sighting inspired my boys to finally try them...and to our delight, they discovered a new fruit!

The whole adventure took two hours and I marveled at the fact that this is going to be a great season. No strollers, sweet spontaneous freedom and curious exploration amidst laughter and very, very little whining. (Of course there was competition and petty sibling stuff--this is real life, after all.)

I loved it and it was a sweet first day of Summer break. 

I woke up today mindful that it is the last day my trio will be five. I have spent so much time over the last couple of months describing their age as almost-six that I might have cheated us out of a few weeks of five. 

I was thinking today about all the firsts and lasts we have achieved in the last 6 years. First smiles, last pacifiers, first solid food, last bottles, first steps, last diapers, first words, last night in cribs, first days of school, last stroller ride. Most of them passed without fanfare. The truth is, those milestones are just days on the calendar--but they usher in new stages and phases that put together are the proof that time is marching on...

So, today I commit rather than hyper-emotionalizing things to simply live in today. I want to enjoy each moment without overly memorializing the ones that have passed or being so busy looking forward that I forget what is right before my eyes. 

Today, like most every day, is one of both firsts and lasts. But it is primarily one of the beautiful in between.

This video has made the rounds, but if you haven't seen it take an opportunity to watch it. Beautiful!