Monday.

Today was back to work for Dan, but he decided to flex his schedule from 1-9 so we had the morning together. We have already devised a list of things to do, both fun and project-like, which is also fun.

1. Ice Skating
2. Movie
3. Play in creek
4. Ride bikes on the trails
5. Go running with the dog
6. Go boating

1. Clean out ponds
2. Reseed the yard
3. Lay new carpet
4. Repaint some rooms
5. Organize house/Rearrange

So for this sun-dappled morning, we decided to walk the dog over to the Scott’s house (about a mile) and play in their huge expanse of creek. We gathered our buckets and crawfish-catching-cups, leashed the dog and began the hike. We accumulated a couple canine friends along the path and had a parade of dogs by the time we reached the Scotts. Which Dan then had to shoo away since they would scare the crawfish to their hidey-holes and muddy the water. It was a relaxing couple of hours as we meandered along the winding creek, hunched over precariously with cups, chasing all sorts of salamanders and catfish and other water life. As we headed home we got caught in the beginnings of a thunder storm.

After a quick lunch and shower, Dan headed off to work and I dug back into the huge renovation around the house. I jump started it a bit before the children left by emptying and organizing first the shed, and then the storage section of the basement. My goal is to surprise Emma with a new finished bedroom in that section of the basement, and ideally to even complete the bathroom in between their rooms. But before I could rearrange the house, a toxic cleaning was long overdue. So 3 trips to Goodwill and countless trashbags later, the rooms are beginning to return to the order and organization that I was once famous for. (before three packrats took over!) I labored for hours yesterday just sorting the girls’ room back into K’nex, Ello, Barbies, Polly Pockets, Gears and American Girl. I wonder if anyone else undertook this task if they could know so instinctively all the nuances of children’s toys! It’s amazing what you learn in the strides of parenting!

Through the course of the evening, I had two realizations. First, I was already missing the girls. I was a little worried that I might unwittingly bask in the “empty nest” life of cleanliness and open scheduling, and I wasn’t sure where that would leave me upon their return. But I was relieved when I realized how often I thought of something that I would have told Em if she were there, or some little doo-dad I would have shown Larken, or some joke I would have giggled about with Alayna. Then I remembered that it is only Day Two, and I am back to apprehensive. This may be a more difficult three weeks than I had foreseen. But it will be a good-difficult.

Secondly, I realized how often those little hands help me out. I guess I take for granted how often they sit along side me in my day, available to go fetch more garbage bags or answer the doorbell or bring an ice water.

As this long day closes, I wonder if the girls are as tired as I am. Or as reflective. Or as orderly. I wonder if Suzi lays in bed pondering the mystery of little tiny hearts that can so easily steal and hold your own. Or perhaps she is also thinking that this may be a long three weeks…