Breakfast at the pier
When I asked you all recently what you'd like more or less of here on the blog, a number of you mentioned wanting more peeks into our lives, so here's one of those posts, just for you!
The other morning when I walked outside to kiss Mr. FG goodbye (don't be too impressed...I only do this when it's not freezing/raining!), I was greeted by some unusually cool, dry air. It's been super-duper hot here, so this was a pleasant surprise and I decided to take advantage of it.
I thawed some black bananas that were living in my freezer and mixed up a batch of Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins, and when the kids woke up, we loaded up the wagon with our food and our water-filled Klean Kanteens (ok, I brought some chai for myself!).
Because on a morning like that, the pier is the place to eat breakfast.
We ate muffins, of course.
(Zoe especially is a fan of these because she's loved all things chocolate from the time she was very small!)
and we had some grapes too.
There was a dry cool breeze, which was a vast improvement over the still, humid air that's been hanging around.
You can't really capture a breeze on camera, though I tried to catch my skirt blowing in the wind (this is my $.50 Goodwill skirt, by the way!)
My kids looked around for creepy crawlies, because that is what kids do.
Joshua's the only one who likes to hold this kind of thing...the girls prefer to observe. 😉
As usual, they also used sticks to poke around in the water for treasures (like, uh, dead crabs!).
Zoe isn't usually too successful at finding any, but she has fun trying. And she does love to see the teeny fish that swim in the shallow water.
It really is beautiful down by the water. There are grasses,
cattails,
hibiscus, (I think that's what those are!)
and bushes blowing in the breeze.
As I sit on the pier in my bare feet, watching my kids happily play, I often think about how blessed I am to be able to be here with them instead of away at a job. I work hard here at home (it's work even to pack up and head down to the pier!), but it's a good kind of work, and I wouldn't trade it for any other job.
And my kids seem to be as happy with this arrangement as I am.
(I have been very lazy about my toenail polish lately!)
Did I mention how lovely it was to sort of need a light jacket?
After the kids had their fill of playing by the water, we headed back home.
Sonia found a few more treasures along the way.
As we walked home, Zoe held my hand and I remembered to enjoy that because I know one day, there will be no more dirty little hands that want to hold mine, and I will miss that.
So, there's a peek into one of our more pleasant mornings (we do have mornings that are not nearly as peaceful or happy, but I don't usually take pictures of those!).
Do you ever have picnic breakfasts? I think they're the best kind of summer picnic. 😉
Your post made me a little weepy this morning. You shared exactly what my heart needed to hear. My "little ones" are now 6 and 10, and in what seems the blink of an eye. What a great reminder for me to cherish the time I have with them. This time in our lives - It truly is a gift from God not to be missed. Thank you - you made my day!
What a fun morning with wonderful memories made!
What a wonderful morning you guys had! Great memories!
Such lovely pictures, I almost felt the breeze too :)! You have a nice family. May I ask which pier it is or which state you are from?
Thank you for sharing the pictures.
Nigella
Oh, it's just our little community pier, by the community boat slips, on a little inlet.
I live in the Mid Atlantic portion of the US, so there's water all around...the Chesapeake Bay, the ocean, a bazillion rivers that feed into the bay, and so on. There are a lot of neighborhoods in my general area that have water access and community docks and such.
I took it for granted for lots of years, but I'm trying to really savor it more now. 🙂
I cannot wait for mornings like this! Thanks for the sweet post 🙂
Ah yes! Saturday mornings coffee on the deck with my sweet husband, kids emerging to join us with OJ in hand, and then full fleged pull out all the stops breakfast: eggs, pancakes, bacon, toast, fruit, while sitting under the umbrella soaking up memories and sunshine. Infrequent occurence this summer due to the heat and we've missed it!
I love this post!! How fun. It reminds me of things my parents used to do with us. 🙂
Your post made me tear up this morning as well. I do the same thing with my daughter who is only 14 months so that I can remember every moment because I know a time will come when I will look back at this time with nostalgia and I want to treasure every moment with her while she is small. I share your thankfulness for being able to stay home with your children. I am lucky enough to be in a situation where we could afford for me to stay home and I thank God for that every morning because there is no other place I would rather be. Like you said, it is a hard job (and I only have 1) and it would actually be less work if I went back to work, but it is so much more rewarding. You made my heart smile this morning, because I am glad that someone else can put into words what my heart is feeling. Thanks for that because today was a day when I really needed to be reminded of that.
Sweet! My favorite kind of blog.
I can't wait until Fall, when I'll be able to have mornings like that with my kids!
What a wonderful idea...I will have to try that sometime. We live in Kansas and our temps today is going to be 110. (sigh) I feel blessed to have a/c , but we do feel somewhat cooped up during the summer time. I know just how you feel, it is a hard job to be a stay at home mom, and many people have the mis-conseption that we don't work. When in reality, when done well...we tend to work 7 days a week! We are paid with hugs and kisses and the admiration of our little ones, and we have a quality of life that may seem old fashoned to some, but I would not trade it for anything. Our children are only little for a short time, and to not be the ones to care and help them to learn and grow, just seems sad, to me anyways. Have a great day!
agreed 😉
Yes, it's been miserably hot here too for most of the summer! The heat indexes have been 105-110 more days than I want to think about.
Juli, I'm in Topeka & it's been so hot!
Aw, it looks so pleasant and peaceful. I never thought of having a picnic breakfast! I will def. look into THAT! My kiddos ar 6 and 10 and it has been hot and humid lately but as soon as we get the chance we will try the beautiful picnic breakfast! In the winter thought we have had a picnic or 2 on the carpet in front of the TV and watched a rented new film... 🙂 Have a blessed day!
lovely post. so nice to have a pier by you 😉
Hi! I've never commented before, but I just wanted to tell you I loved this post! Like blogging turned fine art. 🙂
Aww, thank you! I take that as a high compliment.
Lovely! We are in the middle of winter in Australia so no morning picnics for us yet but I am looking forward to being able to do that soon!
Your picture of holding a little grubby hand was very poignant to me. I have a 6 and 8 year old and every now and again I will hold their hand and think it feels much bigger than yesterday and it saddens me that one day I will realise that they haven't held my hand in a while - another one of those 'lasts' that slips by without us even noticing.
One in awhile I held my mom's hand when I was teenager while we were shopping or going for a walk. Now I'm busy trying to keep my two year old from wandering off and it's nice to have her nan's hand too when we are out together:)
How fun! I really liked this post.
Also, my toenails look exactly like that right now, even the same shade!
I'm sorry to hear that. lol
Just. So. Lovely!!
What a beautiful post. It also made me a little teary-eyed as my youngest is almost 12 and those days when they were little and things were a little more simple seem to have vanished. You really captured the morning with photos. Thanks for sharing!
any meal eaten outside tastes better! but a breakfast picnic on a pier has got to be the best. on the san francisco peninsula, we don't have hot, humid days... ever. and this summer, many mornings have been chilly and foggy.
you are creating such fun memories for your kids! it's the stuff they'll talk about when they are grown.
I want to come and steal your weather. I hate heat and humidity.
Such a great mommy. We eat out on our back patio a ton here, but walking to the water seems heavenly. I love all these pictures, such a great way to start a day.
Those are awesome pictures. I would love to have something that beautiful close to my house. I love the water. I enjoy nature too. Thank you for taking the time to remind us to appreciate the little things. We need those reminders some times...like holding our little ones hands and enjoying it while we can. 😀 Thanks again.
What a great blog post and a photo reminder of the morning. I bet Mr FG wishes he could do that more too.
I think the time has passed for us this year, but breakfast on the beach the otherside of the road from us would be great. We often have breakfast in the garden on weekends, but why have I never thought of the beach when it has been staring at us all summer?!
I think lazy mornings are one of the best things about homeschooling---I know you're not homeschooling this time of year, but even during your school year, I'm guessing you don't roust the kids out of bed at the crack of dawn and make them start their school work. When my son attended school for kindergarten and 1st grade, getting him up in the morning was the worst thing and we started each day with a huge fight about it. My son is a night owl---he just can't shut off his brain at night, and doesn't fall asleep till 10:30 - 11:00 p.m. (It's hard for me, since I'm an early bird, but I just doze off next to him. He has some health issues/challenges so I stay with him till he's asleep, that lessens the chance I'll be called back in a million more times.) So in the morning, he has the luxury of waking up when he's ready and easing into the day. Breakfast on the pier would be a big hit with him. The closest thing we have is a river but I'd worry about him falling in and floating over the 270 foot waterfall at the end! 😉
thanks for a great post.
I have see the wagon that Joshua pulled on your website a couple of times. What model is this? It looks so useful.