A Sweet Spot

I know I'm jinxing myself by declaring that we're in a sweet spot with parenting right now, but they're so rare (so rare that I can't really remember our last) and often fleeting that I feel I should document it...and quick!

All three kids have settled back into school with very few hiccups; after-school activities have begun and we've eased into a pretty busy schedule with little trouble; and sibling squabbles appear to be enjoying a lull. Maybe because all three children thrive on schedule and routine??

For certain, another contributing factor is the kids getting older. With Sam and Brie, Tony and I are able to do more and more...like hitting Kings Island and riding all the big roller coasters together!

And winning at The Claw!

Eating the famous blue soft serve!

And surviving the log flume!

Call us crazy, but the kiddos seem to be playing more nicely together, too. Brie has always played nicely with the boys, but we're starting to see an effort by Sam and Sebastian to enjoy playtime together, as well.

Come to think of it, even playtime with the neighbors has been extra fun lately. Here are Jamo and Sammy looking like twins!

What else qualifies as Sweet Spot time? Well, there have been seasons where getting the kids to head to sports practice (or piano) requires a significant amount of teeth-pulling. This fall, Sam and Brie are busy with many activities, but seem to be as enthusiastic about practices as they are games.

(The games are fun, too, of course...especially when you play your buddy Paige!)

Life has been more relaxing for us, too! You know...the cheering squad!

It does help that Sebastian is not in the thick of sports yet--he tried soccer briefly, but it wasn't the right format for 4-year-olds. He is still loving the same after-school art class that he took last year, though. Right, Mr. Fox??

The big kids filled out "All about me" sheets at the beginning of the school year. What parent doesn't love reading that their nine-year-old son loves New Kids on the Block and sushi (despite the fact that the worksheet's sample illustration is French fries)??

And their eight-year-old daughter describes herself as "caring," her favorite animal is the orca, and she wants world peace and to help the poor? ;-)

Did I mention that we have new neighbors? This family of five deer (or likely two families that hang out together) have been camped out in our backyard for weeks now. It's a miracle that we and our (actual) next-door neighbors have any grass left!

Speaking of neighbors, we invited ours over for breakfast recently. Who doesn't love a delicious breakfast menu?? Tony made homemade cinnamon rolls!

It was fun to hang out with everyone on a quiet Saturday morning.

Also sweet around here?? Our Indian Summer! It was hot on Labor Day Weekend...

And has been lovely and HOT pretty much ever since!

The hot temps have inspired some "tropical" updates to our house...like the new seat cushions that Gammy sewed for our kitchen bar stools! They are PERFECT in our house!

And my first attempt at cold brew coffee. It was yummy!

And pretending like we're at the beach...minus the breeze!

A sweet spot also brings a little bit of (theoretical) chill with it...where parenting relaxes a bit. Bedtime's a bit later...tech time's a little more lenient. And when you're more relaxed, you can step back and enjoy your kids more...and see them for their true selves more clearly.

Adventurous.

Devoted.

Fun-loving!

To name a few personality traits! I'm delighted whenever I see them for who they are.

I dare say that our sweet spot also has to do with the start of my ninth month of yoga classes and my second admissions season with IvyGate. Tony's work is on a roll, too. It feels good to have so many things moving in such a positive direction.

There! I fit in this post before our sweet spot slipped away. I'm sure it eventually will, but until then, we'll be making the most of this time!