Great Outdoors

"It is good to realize that if love and peace can prevail on earth, and if we can teach our children to honor nature's gifts, the joys and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever." -Jimmy Carter


Being in a house has given me such a deep, loving appreciation for what going outdoors does for a person, toddlers and grownups alike.  Anytime I feel Maeve or I sliding into a funk, as long as it's above 55 out, I say, "Wanna go outside?" and her answer is almost always "Shoes and sockies!"

I think something about being outside reminds you that whatever is going on in your head is a small thing, compared to the flight patterns of birds, or the trees pushing out their tiny, baby leaves.  We have had a very balmy spring, for which I am very grateful, after a snowy and often apartment-bound winter. 

It doesn't matter what we do out there, we can just poke the dirt with sticks, or bury "seeds", as Maeve calls any small, roundish thing she finds on the ground.  We can walk to the park (one block away) or just chase unsuspecting bunnies around the neighborhood.  We can draw on the garage door with sidewalk chalk, or go looking for dandelions.  There is a wealth of busyness and beauty Outside, just waiting for toddler and her momma.

At the glorious Denver Botanic Gardens yesterday.