October

I've been feeling like I need some inspiration lately. Not sure what kind. Whether it be moving furniture around in the basement, making something new for dinner one night, walking a different route to Shaun's school and playing at a different park. And this weekend, we did all that... and more.

I'm rejuvenated.

There's something about this weather - crisp air filled with the smell of sleepy trees - that inspires me. Inspires me to refocus and remember why I'm doing this. This. This being a mom thing.

I ignored all the laundry this weekend. Like, the piles and piles that have been diligently sorted into bright/dark/white on the laundry room floor. I stepped over those piles countless times and kicked the waiting laundry baskets to the side as I was trudging to the storage room to scavenge for new toys.

Shaun and Ian anxiously waited at the door for the next bin of toys to appear. Then they excitedly tore off the lid and rummaged through it, choosing 1 or 2 things from each bin to haul up to the sunny playroom. We cleaned blocks and plastic people and rubber snakes; putting them back into empty bins to wait for the next rotation.

It didn't take long for the 'new' toys to find their way under tables and into forts. I think we fished that blue corvette dinky car out from under the stove at least a dozen times. While the boys kept themselves entertained with all the newness in the playroom, I started vacuuming the basement. With 2 long-hair cats and lots of kids, the basement needs to be vacuumed at least every other day. Well, I have to admit, today, the laundry isn't done and the basement isn't clean. Nope. The vacuum is actually sitting right beside me; still plugged into the wall. And there's dust bunnies everywhere. I can see those, too.

As soon as I turned the thing on, Shaun and Ian made their way downstairs. I ended up bringing Kyle down the basement too since he was all alone in the playroom. I quickly realized it was going to be impossible to clean anything with the toddler riding on the top of the vacuum canister, an infant spinning on his bum and getting his legs stuck under the couch, and a 5-year-old digging through the toy box and pulling out something else as quickly as I was cleaning them up. So I stopped. Vacuuming and cleaning that is.

Instead, I set up the kids' tent on some soft foam mats, carefully placed a fuzzy blanket inside and some pillows and made a trip to the loft to gather some camping things. We made a campsite right here in the basement. Right beside the dust bunnies and piles of laundry in the next room. Over the next few hours we added a campfire made from rolled up brown paper complete with tissue paper flames, a camping chair, and a picnic table. I even hung fall coloured leaves from the ceiling to make it more authentic. And we played. Boy, we played. We roasted cotton ball marshmallows taped to mini hockey sticks. We turned out the lights and watched the stars through the mesh of the tent. And we scared away wild animals with the flashlight.

Then when it came time to decide what was for dinner, I threw my type-A personality out the window and put my cookbook away. We went for a walk instead. Shaun rode his bike, because that's what 5 year old 2-wheeled bike riders do, Ian trotted beside the stroller and Kyle curled up in the wrap for a snooze. It was cold outside and I was glad we all had mitts. Shaun led the charge and decided which ways to turn. We walked in circles but we didn't care. We stopped at a new playground and played there for a while. Then when everyone's cheeks were starting to turn rosy, we found our way back to the cozy spot in the living room and I made a fire. The wood crackled and popped and hissed and before long, the room was toasty and we were removing layers.

We read books in front of the fire and curled up on floor pillows with favourite blankets and buddies. The Bigs had snacks for dinner and Kyle drank until he was drunk and his eyes rolled back into his head. Then, one by one, I carried each boy up to bed. First, Shaun, who sleepily asked for just one more chapter. Then, Ian, who mumbled something about an Eskimo kiss - which I happily agreed to. Finally, Kyle, who arched his back in his bed and silently rolled to one side, his face pressed into his favourite blankie.

Yes, I'm rejuvenated. And the laundry and dust bunnies have waited for me. They're patient. My boys growing up? That's going to happen whether the house is clean or not.