Not quite two years and they are off.  She was so happy to get them on and then reality set in.  It didn't take long maybe twenty-four hours and she wanted to change her mind. However after 22 months of braces and bands, they came off.  It was worth it.  At least for me it was. As I look at her face, I see such a change from really a little girl to a young almost woman. I see the growth in her, the maturity as she navigates the whole school - social thing. These trips to the orthodontist were more than fixing her teeth. They were little time outs as we talked in the car to and from the office.  They were little moments of milk shakes the next day as we nursed sore teeth but also but also sad feelings or emotional highs.  I had no idea that fixing teeth was more about strengthening relationships and opening lines of communication.  The straight teeth, beautiful smile, well I think that was the bonus plan.

The slamming of the door echos as the kids head off to the bus stop at the end of the street. The rooms of the house are dark, quiet and still. I sit at the counter thinking of all that needs to be accomplished during the day. The appointments made, groceries bought, laundry folded and ironed, toilets cleaned. There are photos to process, posts for work, meals planned. I start in on the day and by 10 am most of it is done.  The photos are an ongoing process, each one looked at, decided upon, imported and processed so that it matches my idea in my mind. It's quiet and still.  I get up from the computer and walk around, refilling a cup of coffee or walking outside. I waited for this moment, when I could have a day of quiet, when I could contain the chaos of the house. I sit at the counter for breakfast and lunch alone now. I plan out dinner when we can be all together. I hope the oldest might Facetime and join us for dinner. I am still getting used to him being gone and the other two at school. They were at school last year but I had 2 maybe 2 1/2 hours to myself.  The oldest had classes at running start and so was home most of the day.  I think of my grandparents that have breakfast together every morning.  Right now, we all get up at the same time, but we don't eat together.  My husband stands in the kitchen and basically has a snack, some ham, a piece of fruit and half my coffee. I'm packing lunches and calling to the kids to come downstairs. They arrive at different times only to pull out cereal and milk or toast and juice, then off they go to finish getting ready. Finally the morning chaos is over and I am alone.  I shower, make the bed and finally sit down for breakfast myself only to find the rest of my coffee has grown cold. I had a sip of it. Is there a better way?

There is a time of year that bridges the season of summer and autumn. It's not quite one and not quite the other. The earth starts to crack from the heat and leaves and grass grow brittle, turning to gold. Then comes a respite from the heat and the nights cool more rapidly. The moisture again wells up from the ground, streams, and rivers to coat the green and yellow with tiny beads of water. The spider webs glow in the morning light. The wild berries ripen, mold and fall to the ground spreading more seeds. The flowers wither into something almost alien before shedding their brown brittle petals.  The morning sky is introspective, cloudy, grey with it's thoughts and then in the middle of the day it brightens, like it's remembering to smile. Sometimes the brouillard (fog) rises up and blankets the country in it's mystery only to reveal the hidden by the mid day sun.  The smells of the earth are of dust and heat one day then suddenly wet and earthy the next day only to repeat again. This bridge of seasons, collides, smacking together the carefree days of the kids to the heavy schedules of school, twining around each other until you can't tell one strand from another. It's chaos and a dance. It is eager anticipation for the schedules and the structure to return yet still longing for that carefree day day of running through water at the edge of the ocean in bare feet. It is the need for comfort food such as soups, stews and pies but firing up the barbeque because grilled chicken in a white wine marinade, a salad and fresh bread still feels like a light enough meal.  One day the heat will be gone, and only the thick stews, hectic schedules, and earthy smells will remain. This bridge only lasts a week, maybe two at the very longest and then it's gone.

I love this group of kids.  Job has known Henry ever since they were in chess club together when they were in 2nd grade or so.  They have done stuff over the years and through Henry we met his "hilarious little brother" Jack.  Time moved forward and Lona attended school where she met Jasmine. It took a few months and they became friends. Then Jack and Max were brought into the loop and so the group became bigger.  I think Henry and Job are on the fringes since they are older and there are other kids that come and go in this group but they have fun.  Lona has done the muds to suds for three years I think.  This year it was changed from Hovander to the BMX track in Bellingham. The name changed as well to Wondermud since it is all obstacles and mud.  There are no suds involved. This group of kids trained for this.  Job and Henry were determined to beat the rest of the group and except for Max they did.  There was a painting t-shirt party a week or so before the race and so it was the Poachers (Henry and Job) and the Wharnals (Jasmine, Lona, Jack and Max). I hope this is a memory they can all share for years to come and am looking forward to many more memories with this group.