My high involved a garbage truck

Our Friday wasn't pretty enough to demand a trip to the park, but when we finally got some glimpses of sunlight, I bundled the kids up and we headed outside for some vitamin D on the front lawn.  

We took a picnic basket with toys and spent a few hours playing in the yard.  Maya likes to knock down our block towers, though she doesn't yet show the same level of thrill that Collin used to express when he would send them crashing down.  Once in reach, they often go straight to her mouth - 

Happy boy on a carefree Friday -

Interested in this big black flashing thing I kept pointing in her face (and if you look carefully, you can see my reflection in her eyes!)-

Sticks:  a pretty constant fixture in Collin's hands anytime we're in our yard -

Playing together / giving Maya a weed which I then have to remove before she eats it -

My jokester, intentionally closing his eyes as soon as I snapped -

Poser, blocking his sister out of the picture -

Using his hair to keep her balance -

Hug / choke-hold from Collin -

One finger hold while standing -

Collin loves to play super-heroes, his teachers tell us sometimes too much.  He determines which kids are the bad guys, and he and his best friend at school trapped two younger kids (the bad guys in their game) in a little club house on their play ground.  Clearly social skills are a work in progress, though we appreciate his vivid imagination.

Maya following in her big brother's stick wielding footsteps - 

The garbage truck came by and Collin went running to say hi.  As they passed they gave him a honk and I remarked how cool.  Collin replied that he thought they were going to honk.  And that was my high of the day.  I told Cas that I am so thankful I'm around for tiny, happy moments like this.

Over the last two weeks at work, I've turned down an opportunity to take on a big project that would require travel and working full time and then seen peers get promoted.  It was a blessing to be reminded that this time where my son gets excited that a garbage truck honks for him is so short-lived.  I know I'll never regret getting to spend four days a week at home with my kids, even though it means a much slower career trajectory.  And at church today, I was again reminded that to God, success is faithfully following His purpose for me, not achieving some worldly status.  So I'm grateful for my sweet family that finds delight in the ordinary and hope these ordinary moments continue to be the highlights of my days.