Weekend.

August 3, 2010 By Kelle

Imagine what kind of goodness can fill all the spaces when a weekend begins like this…

Sleepily lying on the floor in the girls’ room on Saturday morning while I sip my coffee and watch them break into the energy of a new day. Starting slow…cuddling, cooing, stretching…

…and slowly crescendoing to a full dose of Today-is-my-Favorite-Day as cooing grows to loud calls, toys and rattles shake a little more vigorously and the big sister whoops and gallops and madly digs through the dress-up box for something just right.

Of course, the closing of the weekend was not to be outdone by that blessed commencement of coffee and cooing and bedroom bliss. It may have delayed its celebration until last night, but it delivered…with company in the crooks of our home…with candles and music and laughter and a table set with pretty napkins and flowers…

With manicotti and hot bread and a little something I could see St. Peter handing out at the gates of heaven for a proverbial little welcome if it weren’t for the fact that an alcoholic beverage upon heaven’s welcoming probably gives a sacriligous jitter to some. I’m just sayin’. It’s celebratory. And delicious. Forgive me. Behold…the Hawaiian Martini. Thank you, Dede.

Lainey set her little table for her and Baylee all by herself. Complete with place settings, folded napkins and, she insisted…a decorative kiwi.

And with weekend bookends that lovely, the filling could only be as grand.

A date with my girl. We shopped, just the two of us as I watched her peruse hats and jewelry and headbands, trying them on, smiling, declaring, “Oh, Mommy, this is beau-fi-tul.” And I think to myself a gazillion times This is so much better than I could have ever imagined motherhood to be. Watching your child be amazed, be delighted, be grateful…it’s so soul-satisfying.

And we finished our date, sitting in the sun with frozen yogurt that tasted like fresh peaches and cream.

Plastic Costume Jewerly…simply a must-have.

And then I cleaned and folded, rearranged and put away, and with every pile of clutter I obliterated in our house, I felt spaces of my mind organized as well. And although I am far from being naturally clean and organized and justify my hot mess of a house with excuses like “It’s creative. It helps me. It’s who I am,” I can’t deny the connection of an orderly house and an orderly mind. When all is clean and free, I think more clearly, get more done.

And I finally hung the strand of butterflies I picked up in Key West in the girls’ room. I like a house filled with purposeful items I love…things picked up on travels, artwork we created, photos I love. …and I love these butterflies.

They float right above the changing station so Nella’s eyes follow their gentle sway, and she smiles. And that makes me happy.

So does her one-eyed gaze…

Her obsession with flashcards…

Her in anything striped…

…and turning to find her sister has bedazzled her in something fabulous once again.

Things have slowed down a bit for me as far as projects I was taking on, and I am thankfully drinking my rich cup of mamahood. I have so enjoyed my girls these past couple weeks–as if that distinguishes it from any other week–and yet, there just seems more to be cherished every day.

I am looking forward to the shift of seasons again soon…some possible upcoming travels…the anticipation of pumpkin bread and apple pie and converasations in our home regarding what exactly she wants to be for Halloween. Oh, they’ve already started.

But for now, there’s still summer with its long days and good food and cold pool dips. And weekends like these.