~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
{pretty}
Last week we spent a few days in Big Bear on our first-ever family vacation.
A few months ago, when we were discussing what to do during the Lt's post-deployment leave, we decided a lake in the mountains seemed like a good place for him to unwind after seven months in the hot desert. It sure was beautiful!
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| We rode the chair lift up and down the mountain and hiked around at the top in between. Pippo loved the "big swing." |
{happy}
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| A unique double windup. |
We quickly learned Pippo's idea of a good time: throwing rocks into the water. If it were up to him, we would've stayed there until the lake were full.
(Of course, his daddy is somewhere in the background there, looking for the perfect skipping rock. They are both boys, after all.)
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| Please note, and be impressed by, the distance he got on this one -- the rock is hurtling off the edge of the photo. |
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| That's a Cheerio in his hand, not a rock. |
Let's just say the birds were well fed that afternoon.
Our vacation might have seemed a little lame to some: we didn't go water skiing or para sailing, or even ride the Alpine Slide (which, I admit, looked like fun). We did walk and hike and eat and explore and, of course, feed lots of ducks. Sure, there was at least one morning when some of us would have preferred to sleep an hour or two longer, but other than that I wouldn't say that having our toddler there with us cramped our style.
In fact, there are few things more delightful than seeing your child delighting in something simple and new and exciting, like the splash of a big rock or the quack of a duck up close. What would we have done without him?
(Can you tell that I am happy to have my family together again?)
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| The duck looks jealously on as the hungry Pippo steals a handful for himself. |
{funny}
One of Pippo's favorite new games is having one of us wrap him up, toga-style, in whatever towel or blanket is handy.
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| He likes the burrito-style wrap, too, but we advise against that. We try to insist on at least one arm free to break falls. |
It's a great look for watching the trash truck out the window.
Or just chilling out at the cabin.
{real}
I think my tomato plants are dead.
In all fairness, they're over two years old, and have been sorely neglected for most of that time. But apparently, without a frost, tomatoes just keep plugging along! (You might not guess it from their scraggly appearance, but these produce all year round -- I actually harvested a batch of tomatoes after Christmas!)
I keep thinking I should pull them out, but they haven't actually stopped producing until now. But seriously. Have you ever seen more pathetic-looking plants? Would you believe that they're in my front yard? This is embarrassing. It's time for them to go.
