More IS Less!

I know, I know - this is the common phrase in a swift reversal. And - with regard to sweets, plastic, mass media coverage, portion sizes and just about everything else in this crazy consumeristic world...I happily agree.

However, when the children in my home went from this,

to ...this

at 8am this morning I found the opposite phrase an absolute fact.

I no longer heard "mommy...moooooomy" hollered at the top of some wildly-shrieky lungs from a subsequent room only to find a projectile object hurdling through space to attach on my leg. Instead, like an army with invisible marching orders they divided - oldest two and yougest two - and headed straight for bedrooms.

I waited...but - nothing. They virturally ingnored me for TWO hours! I tried not to feel left out and seized the opportunity to: clean the office, re-set up the old computer to get tax files off it, do two loads of laundry, strip beds, check my email, clean the kitchen, prep a ham for dinner tonight...and then I couldn't stand in another minute.

"Hey!" I yelled up the stairs, "Do you want to go for a walk?" Our walk was lovely and upon arriving home they climbed the riduliously large snowbank, slid down on their butts, and began a chasing game all around our hard-snow covered field. Watching, I realized - THIS is exactly what I had imagined when we looked at the house for the first time.

We looked for homes in December - in Vermont. I know, genious really. It was a blustery day and the realtor was droning on and on about picturing it in the spring with grass when we could actually see the pool, the brook, and ....blah, blah, blah. But I was picturing this - four kids running in the snow covered field, throwing their head back with laughter as one got too close and nearly tagged another.

I had imagined that all four kids would be mine. But, in essence the group I marveled at this morning are as connected as siblings. They are cousins, but with each only one year younger than the next the differencial is barely noticable. They fight like siblings and they love in the same fierce way. And, of course for me, there is the missing cousin - tall, dark haired eight-year-old girl galloping around the field with her long legs.

There was no need for organized projects or well-planned lunches (both of which I had in mind) They just played, enjoying time spent together and I am sure they will remember these days for the rest of their lives. I am so blessed to have this family, and I am learning - within family more really is less - and that is a good thing!