Friday, October 30, 2009

Sand Moments


My boy's giggling floats among the afternoon shadows in our backyard sandpit. The sand lives there too. Unless it's flying by the handful onto the surrounding brick work.

Rust flecked tip trucks drive haphazardly under the direction of little hands. Happiness echoes in the beeps, brumms, buzzes and bangs. Water bubbles over buckets carried to and fro, pouring over plastic farm animals that swim in the puddles that form.

I watch as the last of the sun touches their cheeks. Toes wiggle in the gritty wetness and t-shirts cling to the muck as I breathe in the deliciousness of childhood.

I sit down beside the ordinary moment and store the image, a still frame for the days when the sandpit sits alone. Knowing that afternoons melt quickly into twilight, I grab a bucket and join in the building.

The back yard sandpit seems a wonderful reason to need a bath.

What about you? What 'ordinary moments' have you taken the time to sit down beside recently?

30 comments:

  1. He looks like he is having a blast! I bet you did too.

    My toddler loves to cook in her play kitchen, she loves even more when I come and cook with her. Last night we made everything from eggs to chicken and rice. Just having me in the room was all she wanted. Even my ten year old came in and joined us for a tea party.

    I had a blast too.

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  2. I need to do this more often. Perhaps during pumpkin carving tonight. Yeah, tonight for sure, over the smell of baking pumpkin seeds.

    Thanks for giving me pause, Tabitha!! And your little one is a cutie!!

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  3. Oh these are the best moments, spending carefree time like this with our children. Mine are college age now, but those "hanging out" memories always linger. Clicked over from Karen Walker's blog, enjoyed browsing!

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  4. Pointing out a hornet's nest high in the tree outside our home this morning. All the leaves fell, so it is a pretty cool sight.

    Little kid giggles are the best.
    ~ Wendy

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  5. Cuddling with my poodle. And being outside. Yesterday I got to drive up into the mountains and hike in the fall glory (we're in autumn here). It was so wonderful.

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  6. Ah, Tabitha, I haven't been taking quite enough time for these moments, and this is a good reminder to do so. Well, not quite: Last evening, we went to a local farm at night with my seven-year-old dressed as a ninja—the haunted hayride, the walls of glowing jack-o-lanterns, the sprinkle of stars above and an almost-full moon. Wonderful.

    I'm glad I've found your blog, and I'm now a follower. You can find me at Martha Nichols Online (http://marthanicholsonline.blogspot.com) or Talking Writing (http://talkingwriting.blogspot.com

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  7. Yesterday, sitting with my daughter who was still sick in bed, listening as she tells me more about "Twilight" (and yes, I've read all of them!)

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  8. So cute. It's wonderful that you're taking the time to savor the small things. Time goes by so quickly. My kids are grown and my daughter lives far away. My son is close, though. I love when he's here at the house and we can talk.

    Helen
    Straight From Hel

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  9. Helping my daughter wash her hair in the tub, just a few minutes ago.

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  10. I love that picture!!!!! Those cheeks =) Lovely. My moment? I don't know, but I'm going to Disneyland I'll try and find one there. *smile*

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  11. What a cutie! I have many moments like that, but sometimes I fail to enjoy them. Thanks for the reminder.

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  12. Playing in the sand is so much fun! Here, we played in the snow yesterday. My oldest daughter made a snow tunnel (yes, we had enough snow for that!) and the little one tried to crawl through. I didn't have a snowsuit like they did so I mostly kept away from laying in the snow but it was fun to take part in their joy.

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  13. I love seeing my kids play nicely together. Love the sandpit too, until the kids start throwing sand at eachother. Then it gets in the eyes and little boys cry. :-) But mommy fixes it all up. LOL

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  14. Well written! Someone once told me to truly live in the moment, you should stop everything and just breathe in the smells, see the sights, and EXPERIENCE this moment. Everything about it. Not thinking about the future or the past, just now. How often do we do that?

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  15. He's adorable! Isn't it nice that it's those special moments that bring about poetry?!

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  16. Love those moments, brings me back to August and sunshine and watching my GD's build a sand castle at the beach, and the youngest cover herself in clay :)

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  17. Oh, he's so cute. Enjoy his littleness while you can.

    My son is a big galoot now and I've been enjoying his being here with us, (he's leaving tonight).

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  18. He's so cute!! Hmm. Something I've taken the time to enjoy recently? I suppose sleep doesn't count? It grows more and more elusive lately, but I'm grateful for every minute of it!

    Have a superb weekend! :)

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  19. So lovely, as usual. I haven't had much time for *anything* except work and sleep recently. I still enjoy watching my Father sleep though.

    Just wanted to stop by and tell you I am very much enjoying your MS so far. It is so beautiful and haunting. I find myself thinking about it all throughout the day while I should be thinking of other things. I'll have it back to you ASAP.

    Also, I left you a little award on my blog. I'm sure you've gotten it before, but I just had to send it to you because you're the best. :)

    ~Tara

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  20. Watching my son with his tussled hair stare at his waffle in the kitchen...this moment stands out to me.

    much love

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  21. I've been doing this a lot lately, just watching my kids. Maybe it is because my eldest is getting married in May and I wonder where all the time went, and wishing I had taken a lot more pictures of the kids growing up.

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  23. i like the pictue alot.
    and my favorite moment when my niece was doing the same stuff and laughing to much.

    so cute son.

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  24. Thanks for all the comments. I had a heap of fun reading through those wonderful moments that you guys shared. Sounds like we know where to find simple happiness :)

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  25. I always think it's the little things in life, that are really the BIG things.Those simple pleasures that children get so much from and yet as one grows, we seem to lose that and tend to forget about them. I am thinking.
    'the wind in my hair
    the smell of the Sea,
    love by my side
    walking with me
    and with inspiration
    dancing on my heart;
    I would be....


    .....contented'

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  26. My boys are grown...20 and 22. What I miss is touching them, comforting them with hugs and kisses. Now I must use my words, and hugging was so much easier. Today is Sunday and I cherish Sunday because it is my day to touch. The man-boys will lean forward in their pews at church and give me the look that says "scratch my back", and I get to comfort the old fashioned way...connect to my children through tactile love. You will see this shift one day, long for the snuggle.

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  27. I love those kid moments when time stands still and you delight in the toes and noses and chubby hands. For me, it's my grandkids mirroring their mommy's antics.

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  28. Sweet moments. Sweet picture.

    I shared the discovery of new birds at the refuge with my brother this weekend in a great big sister way - even though we are far far from childhood.

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  29. A world filled with play. Loved the sounds!

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  30. I really need to take the time to write down personal moments. I used to as a teenager, but have fallen out of the habit. Great reminder.

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