We uprooted last week–temporarily, of course–hauling a large tote full of everything the kids and I would need for a week along with school bags and lunch boxes, and headed to my dad’s condo where we stayed while our tile was ripped out and replaced by new floors. As if removing every standing thing from your home and finding a place for it for a week isn’t slightly disruptive enough, moving in with someone during a school week and managing the daily chaos of running between homes several times a day definitely added a bit of an exciting twist. What I didn’t expect though was how peaceful and restoring a week full of 22 trips to Lowe’s and living out of a tote bag could be. But when workers in your house keep you from that constant state of “what I should be doing to keep this home afloat” and you don’t have access to all the projects you have going, you have no choice but to go for bike rides every afternoon, hunt for gopher tortoises, read a chapter of that book on the lanai, take the glass of wine your dad passes to you, swim at sunset, journal from bed (loving this new lists journal).
It also helps to have a dad who is the ultimate caretaker, and besides giving us a place to stay, he also did our laundry, made me coffee, put my kids to sleep with elaborate made-up stories every night, lit candles in my bathroom and gave me my own robe. I’m continually inspired in this place of parenting-children-while-being-parented to be a good nurturer to the people in my life.
I take notes on things my parents do that I love so that I remember to do the same for my kids someday. One of them that my dad is so good at doing is not asking what he can do to help but just doing it. Whenever he comes over, within seconds of walking in the door, he’s grabbing a watering can and tending to my plants, washing dishes, asking for some wood glue so he can fix the broken drawer he noticed last time he was here, luring the kids outside for a walk so I can get some things done.
We happened to be at Poppa’s house on the first day of spring, so we made flower crowns…
…and found a friendly butterfly.
,
This one turns double digits next month.
And without intending to, I’ve started a collection of photos where Dash is peeing in the background. I’d like to say this is the only photo in the collection, but no.
As for the floors, I’ve been talking for years about how much I wanted new floors–even wrote something in the book about Nella’s birth shaking “the wants” out of me and making me realize how unimportant things like wood floors are and that happiness doesn’t come from them. Turns out I was wrong. Happiness comes from wood floors. I kid, I kid. But seriously, our house feels transformed and they do make me happy.
As we’ve slowly put things back into place, we’ve been more purposeful in what we hang on to and making sure our home reflects the peace and simple joys we aspire to maintain.
Speaking of simple joys…spring flowers:
A new bunch of delphinium, iris and liatris for the window and dreams to expand this little space into a sort of indoor garden–like crazy plant lady Grey Gardens kind. Is it considered clutter if it’s plants and flowers? Because I’m in for that kind of clutter.
Starting April this weekend with a Spring Bucket List:
1. Expand botanical clutter in Grey Gardens window
2. Make our own Play Doh in rainbow pastels.
3. Start a nature journal.
4. Take my kids to a yoga class.
5. Make an Easter cake.
6. Have a lemonade stand.
7. Find the perfect summer straw hat.
8. Wear head-to-toe floral.
9. Have a picnic dinner at a park.
10. Make my own lavender linen spray.
Love the floors ~ love the wide planks.
Love your Dad too! 🙂
The floors look great!! And I love all the flowers! I just wish my allergies appreciated them as much as my eyes do!
http://aneducationindomestication.com
Kelle,
Your family makes me get teary eyed, especially reading about how kind & loving your father is. How full of life he is & how he LIVES more in a single minute of a single day then some people do in an entire year. What a gem he is.
And I loved your HAVING to slow down & enjoy because you can’t get to ALLLLL the things you SHOULD be doing, or FEEL you should be anyway…
I forget the magic of vacations is just that. Even if it’s to a place nearby & lifes daily demands still call!
Any chance you can do a few side by sides of old & new floors? They are STUNNING & really give it a different feel (ok look anyway from where I am).
Thanks again for sharing with us! I always feel renewed & motivated after checking in here. I know I’m not alone even though I never comment.
Love this so much and there is nothing better than wood floors! And the Spring list is inspiring me to write my own!
I would live out of a tote for the rest of my life…if only I could live with your dad.. he lives life like we all should…so full and so caring! What a sweet sweet man!
Enjoy every minute with your dad…you are so lucky!
Love,
From Wisconsin
I love the line about workers keeping you from doing the “things you should be doing”. In 2012 we had wall to wall wood floors installed and had to live outside for 3 days. We slept at my father-in-law’s place, but spent all day outside – cooking, eating, playing, using the outhouse, working in the yard and garden. As “hectic” as those days were, there was something incredibly simple about them, too. Just living life for every moment, not concerned about the stuff of the indoor life.
It sure looks like the kids are enjoying the floor. Happy Spring!
Yes! Sounds divine. Reminds me of when Hurricane Wilma hit Naples. My mom was visiting, and it is one of the best, most bonding adult memories I have with her. Power out for three days, Coleman stove meals, neighbors all out and sharing generators, rigging up ways to make coffee, playing cards by candlelight, going for bike rides, telling stories. It’s so good to have reasons to stop and slow down. They’re all around us, but we sometimes don’t listen to them and have to have hurricanes straighten us out. :o)
Lainey is starting to look very grown-up. So posed with her downcast eyes in the blue striped shirt photo and the fern photo. You can tell that she is very conscious of the camera these days. Don’t think she’ll be little much longer!
I feel like when I take the time to comment on your blog, there’s so much to say, I need to make a bulleted list. And so I shall.
• Your dad sounds so much like my mom. She’s the ultimate nurturer. I sometimes want to just curl up and let myself be “mommed” when she’s at my house.
• The floors look FAB! And although floors and things and dispendible stuff doesn’t make us the genuine type of happy, it’s a simple pleasure that adds up to joy in the everyday, which makes us feel a little better when our day turns to shit, as it has a way of doing sometimes.
• That’s it. I’m making lavender linen spray.
•Happy spring!
…”let myself be mommed.”
YES. I feel that all the time with him.
I really love your Dad : ). In a nice friendly, non stalker way, of course.
LOVE the list journal. Snagged some at Home Goods and give them to just about every person that I love.
We got new wood floors last year and just like you, I found them to be life transforming. The only bad thing is that they are very dark so I need to clean them once a day. Of course, being the swell housekeeper I am, I do it like once a month….. #Failure.
Happy Weekend, Kelle! Your little pee-er is hilarious!
Sounds like my mother in law….I’m one of the lucky ones.She always arrives toting baskets of goodies to keep the kids busy, she does those little things that I don’t take the time to do…she even polishes my tea kettle…I too hope I remember these things when my children are grown.
The best part of your story was your little man’s “pose” in the background. I have two little men of my own and that one made me laugh out loud. Thank you for that, because those are the best stories to have tucked away for another time! ;0)
I love everything about this post–thank you so much for making it!
Random question, how do you care for the flowers on the window? Or do you just keep them there until they go? I have a windowsill above my kitchen sink that could use some freshness. <3
So beautiful to be nurtured like that- your dad has it right:) & I Love that your thinking about how you’ll one day pay it forward with your kids. I think it makes me parent better when my cup gets filled up a bit that way.
Love wooden floors too- yours look beautiful
LOVE this post. Love them all…but this post citing family love and tenderness and making memories..it tugged at my heart. ❤
Blessed ~ ????????????????????????
The floors are beautiful!!
RE play dough. Don’t just make it in pretty colors, make kool aid play dough so it smells good too!
Are these pictures from the Botanical Gardens? The ferns and palm fronds are beautiful and make a great backdrop!
Third kid peeing in the background… yep. Right there with ya sister. I’ve given in to the requests and just plead he’s strategic about it. Now I even find myself marveling at his efficiency like he’s a stealth operative in the field.
At least Dash keeps his behind covered while peeing outside. All 3 of my boys drop their pants around their ankles. Ugh! Embarrassing!