We ran away

Years ago when we first moved to Seattle the kids and I would take spontaneous trips all the time.  We went everywhere and did everything, together.  Now days it is not the same story. The older kids have sports, lessons, classes and obligations and we are hardly ever together all at the same time except for around the dinner table.

Oh, how I long for those care free days when we woke up and I said “Hey lets go to the zoo (or the Pacific Science Center, or Northwest Trek, or letterboxing, or some other really cool random event I found out about)!  And they would run around with excitement while getting dressed.  Those were the days and I miss them soo very much.  One day we even went to Canada, just because we could (and we were studying it for Geography club).

So one day instead of wishing, we did it! We ran away!!!

All of us. At the same time!!!  It was amazing!!!  I was afraid they wouldn’t remember our little excursions and rituals but as we drove up I-5 and came around the bends the chant started “10, 9, 8, “ and so on until there she was, our beautiful city and the children all yelled “SEATTLE!!!!!  our city!!!!”  They had remembered a tradition started five years ago. Brought such joy to my heart.

On a side note, we are often asked why we have so many kids and this is why….  I love and adore watching them with each other.  Those moments when they are so excited to learn and to teach one another or just to have someone else to experience things with.

I love as each one discovers something new. With just one or two kids you only get to experience it a couple of times. With more, you keep re-experiencing things and it never does lose it’s magic, ever.

I was so sure that T.J. would eventually fall in but he kept reassuring me that he was safe because after all, he did have his rain boots on.

Little siblings give you a legit reason to do silly things like wear a hooded towel and call yourself an octopus as you chase them around.

By the way, I am so going to make a few of these one day. Maybe I should pin it on Pinterest so that I don’t forget.

We had an amazingly great time.  The only down part was that we were only there for three hours because low and behold reality came and found us and I realized that the children had choir that afternoon.  For a moment though, they were all mine again. Mine and just mine.