Being the oldest of four has many perks I am sure, but having ample time with one parent (or both) is not one of them.  I have made a recent vow to weave this into our days more often.  A friend of mine, who is also the oldest of four, went on a date with her mom once a month rotating through the family weekly.  This is so appealing to me and has so much value.  Over the weekend I spent two luxurious hours on a stack of pillows tucked in the corner of the library with Rowan reading graphic novels, such as Binky the Space Cat, and Rapunzel’s Revenge.  We both left calmer, more content and most importantly, more connected.  It is so hard to find time to connect to each of these little beings we get to call “ours” on that level, and its something I crave more of.

The inspiration for doing so is pictured above.  Six months ago, almost exactly, we scurried through a sweet eight year old birthday.  There was a cake, there was playing at the lake, but really the promise of a candy store outing with his bestie was just that- a promise.  We couldn’t have predicted stomach viruses, holidays, and more stomach viruses keeping us from following through for an entire half a year.

But follow through we did.  I wish these photos could have captured the adorableness that was my Sunday.  These two hemmed and hawed in front of the glass case of colorful sugary, jeweled, candies and silky chocolates.  They giggled their way through the toy store splitting a package of glow in the dark stars.  Then they took turns in the changing room trying on outfits for their well choreographed Celtic dance that has been the center of their days lately.

Until of course Maple Syrup Time.   (Yes they are all capitalized.  It’s like that.)  So without further ado I am off to make sure the fire is properly stoked and no one needs helping hoisting heavy buckets- though I’m sure they don’t.  This operation has been running on the power of that 8.5 year old.  He is a determined soul.

And my favorite part of this half birthday celebration is that the timing worked perfectly for me to FINALLY finish his birthday sweater.  It is Bracken, by Annie Rowden knit with Brooklyn Tweed’s Quarry.  This kid was decked out in knitwear and enjoyed telling people his super power is knitting.  Oh my boy….