A Family Walk in January

Today was so gorgeous here. Bluebird skies, endless sunshine, spring temperatures. The perfect break in the middle of winter. Colorado seems particularly good at offering respite from the cold and snow and gray every few weeks. I dare say the winters here are mild. At least when compared to those bitter cold, dark winters I left behind in Wisconsin.

Today the beautiful weather was calling my name. So out we went, around 4 o'clock, to catch the last warmth of the sun before it dipped behind the mountains. The thermometer nearly hit 50 degrees during the peak of the day, but when we finally made it outside it was a bit cooler. It is still winter, after all.

It takes much longer to walk to the park with Isaac than it used to when we would carry him, even if we take the most direct route, which makes it only four blocks away. I've gotten used to treating the time as exploration, trying not to have a destination set in stone, trying not to hurry Isaac along. If we make it to the park, great. If we don't, at least we watched the neighbors dog barking at us, pointed to the plastic owl in another neighbor's tree, splashed in puddles and inspected the old, sunken fishing boat that is now corner landscape along the way. We explore. My eyes are opened by my toddler's wanderings. There is so much to discover again. And the slowed pace feels good.

We did make it to the park this time. And we were greeted by the long, slanting evening light. Isaac climbed and laughed with his daddy, balanced and walked with Mama. I am filled right up by these days. My cup runneth over.