Enjoying the Small Things

Enjoying the Small Things

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Favorite Day.

September 3, 2011 By Kelle

It’s rained for about six days straight now. Not all day, but if we’re playing by “Majority Rules,” then it’s clearly a victory for Gray Skies, with Blue and Sunny bowing out respectfully. Until this morning. Finally.

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I love home days. I like sitting cross-legged on the carpet in Lainey’s room and watching her mold Moon Dough into snakes and pancakes, or planning all day to make something fabulous in the kitchen even if I never do. I like knowing we have no business outside the walls of our house that calls us to get up and go, and yet today I needed out. I had to breathe air that hadn’t been circulating in our house for six gray days–so much a trip to the bank even sounded adventurous. I had no idea where we were going, but I braided Lainey’s hair, slipped ruffle socks and silver shoes over Nella’s bare feet and buckled them (the girls, not the feet) into their car seats–ready for something. Brett called me on my way out. “Where are you off to?” …and I laughed as I drove: “I have no idea where I’m going, but we’re going somewhere.”

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And I think that pretty much sums up everything. Parenting, living, moving forward, embracing change, making something good of what you’ve been given.

I have no idea where I’m going, but I’m going somewhere.

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We drove. Toward the beach, but then turned South on 41 and kept driving. Past big banks with mirrored windows and bus stops where trolleys picked up passengers on their way to somewhere too. I turned up the volume and Brett’s Jimmy Buffet CD picked up where it left off. I told Lainey we were going on an adventure and I made a mental note of just how much my senses were on fire when I heard Nella laughing that can’t-catch-her-breath giggle when Lainey made faces at her.

For some reason, today was one of my favorite adventures I’ve ever had with my girls. As my Holland friends would say…today was my favorite day.

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I wanted to be back by three because I had work to do, but we didn’t roll in the driveway until almost 7 tonight, and I didn’t care.

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Sometimes, when you don’t know where you’re going–and you embrace the freedom in that very fact–you enjoy the journey so much more. Like an unplanned road trip with lots of stops.

First stop: Cambier Park, the furthest park from our house but worth the little drive for its open sanctuary of sitting space that’s covered with dried fallen leaves all year round and encircled by enchanted-looking trees, perfect for climbing.

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We found hearts everywhere. In fallen leaves.

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Floating in the sky.

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And thousands of them, suspended in a green canopy overhead.

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She gave me one to keep forever.

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You bet your sweet ass, I will.

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We climbed empty bleachers at the baseball field and smiled when we realized we were in the perfect spot when it started to rain, protected by a tin roof that echoed with every ping ping ping of raindrops.

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Sister can climb like a Mutha.



Post-rain, Lainey danced for an audience of two in the outdoor auditorium.

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Followed by snacks downtown.

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And then my favorite. The encore.

We turned out of the park and, driving nowhere once more, I turned right. I turned right instead of left and, as Frost would say…that has made all the difference.

Two stop signs and a dead end–a dead end into a quiet cul de sac hugged by nothing but blue skies, a sea of glass, and two rows of palm trees standing erect at the entrance to the beach, like a welcoming red carpet.

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Oh, we parked that car alright. We had nothing–no towels, no beach blanket, no stroller, no hats. We dug through the back seat and I, for once, was thankful I managed to maintain a state of shambles in my car. Lainey found a can of sunscreen, a t-shirt, a thin receiving blanket and a Dora sun visor.

We walked through the rows of palm trees, and I half expected them to clap–to call out our names as we busted moves down the soul train aisle and into the promised land and reason we live here.

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We smoothed the edges of our tiny thin receiving blanket on to the sand and walked the shore towards the pier. It was one of the most beautiful beach days I’ve ever experienced in my eight years here.

And then we did it. I’ve been wanting to do it ever since I saw the life-loving grandma wringing her shorts on the beach months ago.

“Hey Lainey, you wanna go swimming?” I asked with a cunning smile.

“But we don’t have any bathing suits.” She has to answer this way because Brett is her dad, and she follows in his responsible footsteps.

“Let’s go in our clothes.” I delivered my solution with the same excitement I’ll use someday when I tell her “Let’s play hooky from school today.” She smiled back, and I secured Nella closely to my hip, took Lainey’s hand and the three of us ran with wild smiles into the gulf.

Yes, I’m sentimental. I might describe my girls’ births as if heaven done swallowed me up toward the glory of God and a sunset at Isle of Capri as a heart-stopping celebration. I’ll own my sugar, and I’ll eat it smiling. But let me tell you, that moment today? Sentimental or not–clinging a girl on each hip, the gulf skimming our shoulders, clothes drenched in sea water and looking out at the bluest freaking sky I’ve ever seen?

Today was my favorite f#[email protected] day.

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We reemerged from the water, dripping, just long enough to walk up to a man, hand him my camera and say “I’ve lived here for eight years and it’s about time we do this. Can you please take a picture?”

He took three.

We stayed another hour. Chasing seagulls, writing our names with beach pens, counting shells. I sat half-submerged in shallow water, nursing a baby, watching my big girl, and I knew at that moment I wouldn’t forget the day we swam in the ocean, fully dressed.

Sometimes, it takes not knowing where you’re going to arrive someplace fabulous. And whenever I am sure I’m lost, I will keep driving. I will look to the left and to the right as I drive, taking in the sights as I go. And I will know that somewhere not far ahead, there’s a beach. There’s a beach where I can run so fast, I don’t even have to stop to change my clothes.



Today is my favorite day.

*****

Friday Photo Dump:

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*****

I am excited to introduce our new sponsor for multiple reasons. I am fascinated with the smart, new companies that are emerging that serve dual purposes–creating beautiful, wearable products while providing employment opportunities and necessities for underprivileged people. Noonday Collection is one of those companies, and Independent Consultant Lori Boynton is pairing with Enjoying the Small Things in sponsorship this month with beautiful accessories created by artisans around the world. Each piece comes with a story behind it, and by buying Noonday Collection accessories, you are helping support artists trying to make a living not only in the USA but in Ecuador, Peru, India, Uganda, and many more.

The Inca Steps necklace comes in teal, bone and coral and was handcrafted from nuts of the tagua palm.

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One commenter will be randomly selected from this post to receive a free Inca Steps necklace, in bone or teal, courtesy of Lori Boynton’s Noonday Collection store

Winner will be announced in Monday’s post.

*****

Until then, there’s a holiday weekend. Three favorite days. I don’t know where we’re going, but I know we’ll end up somewhere good.

Happy Weekend. Happy Labor Day. Happy Favorite Day.

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Filed Under: Favorites, Our Everyday, Our Florida Home, Photo Dump 678 Comments

So Excited

May 6, 2010 By Kelle

I have that kiddish excitement right now. Like the night before my first day back to school when I was in second grade and all I could do was think about the awesome outfit I was going to wear the next day. An oversize yellow Benetton sweater that looked like something my friend Scott’s cool sister Dina would wear when she worked at The Merry-Go-Round. Except she had tattoos, a mohawk and a trillion rubber bracelets up her arm. And hoop earrings and yellow jelly shoes to match.

So many cool things I’m excited about right now, it’s even better than jelly shoes…and that’s really good.

* It started with this commercial I saw the other night that put me in a worm hole of happiness. Made me all excited for summer and I wished I was every single person in this commercial. Especially the white haired lady. WATCH IT….and smile.

*Then there’s Lainey’s fairy party that’s sneakin’ very close and in between hot-gluing the hundredth flower on a cone hat and brushing pink glitter off my counter today, I realized just how fabulous celebrating a little’s life is. And she is so excited.

Top that ice cream with the very ripe cherry of two much-loved friends who are coming to town just to celebrate…well, that’s two peanut buster parfaits in one week.

*The return to Hurricanes. My favorite place for wings and beer and girlfriends and it’s not a night unless they kick us out. So it was tonight. Heidi and I escaped alone to the familiar blue booths of our happy place and caught up…like went all the way back to that beautiful day of Nella’s birth and retold stories. And we cried. And laughed. And ended up in the parking lot after they shut down sitting on the curb talking. And maybe we did a cartwheel or two.

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But we lived. And all who would have seen us would have said, they know how to have fun.

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*Heidi did a photo shoot of me and my girls tonight for Mother’s Day and the love and beauty and emotion she captured of my little village had me in tears. More to come on that, but there was a field of love tonight I can’t seem to get over.

*But mostly, what I’m really excited about is that Brett asked me what I want for Mother’s Day, and I answered a full day at Isle of Capri. Like we’re talking morning ’til dark, and he’s making it happen. And all I can think about is how beautiful this Sunday will be. Celebrating the most amazing gift I’ve been given among the happiest of places with those I love. We will bury our feet in the sand and shout to blue skies above…this is living. Oh, us girls…we just wanna have fun.

This was last year…I watched it last night and got so excited…and I can’t wait to do it again. Click here to watch.

Yes, there’s much to be excited about. And jelly shoes ain’t got nothin’ on us.

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When asked what she was doing, Lainey replied, “Sssshh. Her talkin’ to Poppa.”

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Sleeping babies await.

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Filed Under: Our Everyday 100 Comments

I like evenings when…

May 5, 2010 By Kelle

…we spontaneously decide to head to the pool at sunset. We walk there barefoot and don’t bother to pack a bag but rather drag towels and clutch a balled up change of clothes on the way there and mark our path with wet footprints on the way back.

I like the two-almost-three-year-old that floats like a fish in the middle of the pool, clutching her swimmy, flashing confident smiles as she bobs in the sun-drenched waters.

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We don’t do this a lot, so it’s special…and yet when we do come, we wonder why we don’t do it more often.

She is brave and adventurous, fearlessly launching off the cement edge, hands held high, mouth open, anticipating the splash…and it comes, loud and explosive, and yet up she bobs, proud and composed.

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He loves the water. And it’s important to him for them to love it too. And so he swims, clutching them close at first…then slowly…gliding them into the welcoming ripples, guiding them all the way. Nella calmly takes it in, more entranced with her daddy than the water though.

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And little fish…she drinks it all in…the water, the daddy, the exhileration of being lifted and tossed and caught in his arms.

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Yes, we should do this more often.

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Got my Popina swimsuit…thank you, Pamela! It is my favorite swimsuit I’ve ever owned! Super retro and very Esther Williams indeed.

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I climbed quite a bit of distance up the work mountain today while Lainey stayed with Grandma. And, although I missed her, it was a calm and productive day where my workload was nicely softened with the added blessing of a breathy bundle on my lap through it all. She is so good and while tummy time and play time and entertaining herself is good and all, I find myself picking her up a trillion times and finding ways to snuggle her new length on my lap, in the crook of my arm, over my shoulder while I edit and type and answer e-mails. She’s a very good assistant.

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Still though, it isn’t quite complete until they are together…my wispy one and my little Almond Joy.

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Loving today…a man whose love for our girls rivals mine so equally, it’s like looking in a mirror.

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And to balance out the whole chicken-soup-for-the-soul-ishness of this post, I’ll throw in the fact that I’m also loving a couple things without the sap factor.

Things like my insatiable thirst for cold iced tea with lime and the crazy gratification of sipping it after my drawn out process of making individual cups of it every afternoon.

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Things like raiding the pink pile from Lainey’s garden party to score a bag of pink m&m’s and not feeling guilty when I stole them, ate them and didn’t care that there’s one less sugary thing for those kids to sink their teeth in. Mothers will surely thank me.

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Deadliest Catch awaits as does my breathy bundles and fresh sheets.
I like evenings when…they end just like this one.

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Filed Under: Our Everyday, Our Florida Home 141 Comments

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