Some photos from the last two weeks…

-M

For the last two weeks, the girls and I have been on break. Unlike in years past, we didn’t travel anywhere major (Monterey is only a two-hour trip) and we didn’t make any major plans. Aside from my personal goal of working out a lot and decluttering our house and garage (check and check!), I wanted us all to just relax, to be spontaneous in what we decided to do, and to, y’know, just be. And so that’s what happened! (Avery was sick from Saturday to Thursday of last week, so we would have had to stay inside even if we didn’t want to. It was a bummer she didn’t feel well, but at least the timing wasn’t terrible!)

When I look back at this vacation I’ll remember things like playing Frozen Monopoly (thank you, Aunt Wendy!) with Avery and Mastermind with Zoe, setting up a Lego Friends city with both girls, and running lots of little errands – and yes, going shopping – with the family. (Avery said her one wish for the break was to go to the “place that gives you free stuff,” so we took her to Costco one morning.) I’ll also try to remember the joy of slowing down, of not rushing to be out of the house by 8 or 9 every morning, and by not making plans and seeing where the day takes you. When we asked the girls what they wanted to do yesterday, Zoe responded, “I just want to have a lazy day and stay home.” It’s taken me awhile, but I’m seeing the benefit of that!

-M

Q took Zoe to get her hair cut the other day, and she came home with a new style. I had suggested she get it cut short, but it was ultimately Zoe’s decision: She decided to cut a lot off, she said, because it’s easier to brush and it looks healthier. She seems happy with the new do; I kept catching her later that day looking in the mirror and giggling. “I look like a totally different person!” she said.

-M

Here’s to a happy 2015.

-M