Keeping it simple

The other day I found myself filling our tub full of bubbles galore.  So much so that it looked more like an open bottle of Mr. Bubbles fell into the hands of a one year old rather than the hands of a mom who knows not to dump half a bottle of Mr. B directly in the mouth of Niagara Falls. 

I couldn't help myself though.  "Feed me, Seymour, feed me" kept dancing in my head and I went with it.

We had a bath in the middle of the afternoon with no hidden agenda of cleaning the dirt from our feet or the cookie residue from our mouths.  It was simply a bath drawn to play and explore in.  And I say "we" because even I found myself neck deep in the cavernous bubbles, growing bubble beards and throwing bubble snowballs.

Keeping it simple. 

When I eyed Kennedy sneaking my makeup out of the "off limits" drawer, the itch to stop her and take back all my brushes, blushes, eye shadows and lipsticks was like wanting to kill a fly that's found its way in via an open door.  Instead of swatting the fly away, I took a deep breath and let it land. 

I watched her concentrate as she applied her makeup.  I watched her carefully choose which area of her face the brush would touch.  I watched her trying to imitate me.

 

So, she missed her mouth all but one time and it was the perfect shade of plum to bring out the scar on her right temple, but she loved every minute of the carefree primping. 

As for me, well, I'm just glad I didn't scratch that itch.

Keeping it simple. 

The play dates have even been simplified lately.  No need to pack up the car with snacks, sunblock, strollers and drive all the way to the zoo when the Petsmart down the street offers its own free-of-charge exploration.

And the girls found cat toys to be equally hypnotic as watching purple giraffe tongues lasso in acacia leaves at the zoo.

Not to mention, I've yet to see one of these exotic rodents at the zoo.



Keeping it simple. 

Getting the mail. 

I used to save mailbox visits for times when I was in the car coming or going.  Times when I could jump out, snatch the mail and jump back in.  Times when I was solo.  But the girl digs being my mail assistant and in my quest to keep it simple, I've decided to hire her on permanently and retire my somewhat Chinese Fire Drill method of retrieving the mail. 

Her mid-year performance report may or may not include things like: 1) gets sidetracked often; 2) has a tendency to taste test packages; 3) fails to stay on the sidewalk; 4) repeatedly tries picking up hazardous materials off the ground; 5) is known to ditch her duties for grassy knolls and people watching; 6) responsible for laugh lines and crow's-feet on her mother's face.

Keeping it simple. 

The morning sun usually finds us at the park.  We've discovered a smaller park just a hop, skip and jump away from the house.  And since the park is usually desolate until the dismissal bell rings at the school down the street, Kennedy is free to run and jump and climb and slide as often as she likes, as there are no lines, no waiting.

Keeping it simple.

This one isn't exactly simple in the respect that it required us to buckle up and drive for a good 20 minutes, but it did require simple mathematics.  The train park.  We rode the train twice and the carousel once and only had to count out five one-dollar bills. 

I sat behind the camera for the better part of the day and found delight in simple things like little hands grabbing big hands, polka dot bottoms running from place to place and laughing with Brandon at how serious Kennedy always looks, even when she's having fun.

I stand corrected.

She doesn't ALWAYS look serious.

And that's how we be keeping it simple. 

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The inspiration for the outfit came straight from the water table runways of, probably, China. 

Designer:  Christian - The Caterpillar - Dior.