opportunity knocks

We can't seem to stop....

.....forgoing responsibility and real life mundaneness, in exchange for family play.

Our kids are perfect ages to do just about anything right now. 

And while we still have a few more precious weeks of summer break, 

we are taking advantage of that. 

Any opportunity to do something together--we take it.

You see, not to brag (but really, I'm about to brag), our kids are pretty awesome.

(Whoa! I didn't even try to be a little bit humble!)

They are up for anything we put in front of them, and attack it with full energy,

curiosity, and exactly one billion questions.

This weekend we set out on a 5 mile hike. 

Five. Miles. 

Up 3, down 2. 

About 1000ft elevation gain.

As long as I'm throwing numbers at you--my children are 4 and 6 years old,

 and neither stand much taller than 3 feet something inches--that makes for tiny little legs.

Five miles seemed like alot, so we knew we'd take it a little at a time--if we didn't make it, oh well.

So Saturday afternoon, 

we left the dishes in the sink, 

the dirty clothes piled up, 

and set out for our adventure. 

Chores could wait......this, most definitely, could not.

We had drinks, snacks, and Charly--all we needed,

and headed up through the aspens and wild flowers.

And they just kept climbing. 

And climbing and climbing.

Up they went, and at last we made it to the lake.

We sat and ate our snack together, and I couldn't help but think how valuable 

this little moment was.

can you see them? 1, 2, 3, and charly in the lead

all photos taken on Big and Little Water Trails, and at Dog Lake, UT.

While my house is nowhere near sparkling clean,

the weeds might be a little bit tall,

my laundry room looks like a hoarders paradise,

(should I keep going?)

my bed sometimes forgets to make itself (oh, wait, beds can't make themselves?)

I have a coffee table, a dresser, and a chair waiting to be painted....

.....my children are not going to grow up and remember ANY of these things. 

So instead of making those things my focus,

any opportunity we get 

to play with them 

and teach them 

and help them to experience something new, 

We will take it.

Responsibility can wait.