Our "Normal"

After weeks of friends and family and parties and food, gifts and decorations, today dawns bright.  All good things we've basked in these past few weeks, but we are all ready to step back into the goodness of every day life.

We start with eggs, coffee for mom, then on to pulling out textbooks, read alouds.  I am always blown away by how they never stop learning - even when we take time off. 

Throughout the day I am reminded of how learning isn't merely relegated to classroom academics.  We grocery shop as a family, and I nod smiles at the woman who marvels "he is 7 years old and still holds your hand?" 

My oldest helps me screw together a new table and chairs for little people, volunteers to wipe them down, excitedly presents them to younger siblings with the love and enjoyment of a mini parent.  They are all learning so much in this little home, so much more than could be graded on a report card or discussed in parent/teacher conferences.

We un-decorate the house and I am reassuring 3 year old fears over putting away ornaments for next year while trying to contain my own glee at how clean and fresh everything looks, bare and full of possibilities.  I make lists of hoped for home changes while they copy bible verses in their journals.

At the end of the day, I'm doing my nightly sweep of these hundred year old boards and again amazed at a half days worth of large-ish family grime that always seems to accumulate.  B gathers dishes, rinses at the sink.  It is then that I realize - I enjoyed my family today.  What's more, I can't wait to do it all again tomorrow.