9:04 Saturday morning I see a FB post about U-pick Daffodils and decide to have a spontaneous outing. Naively, I think we can make it there close to 10:00 when the fields open. I pick up the phone to invite Grandma to join us and find my phone completely dead. About the time I start trying to clean up and get everyone ready, James has one of his crying episodes. I remind myself babies don't like to be rushed and sit down to rock him to sleep.
10:11 The house is somewhat straightened, our bags are packed, and the grocery list is made. As we are heading out the door, John says, "I'm hungry momma." I really want to leave while James is still sleeping, but I remind myself how much better the trip will be if I make sure all the kids have full stomachs. I consider making a picnic lunch, but remember we are out of bread and just about everything else. I recall why the grocery store was on the agenda and not a superfluous trip to pick daffodils, but I am determined the later is what our spirits needed most. Since we had eggs, I made brunch and packed some fruit and crackers for the ride. Hopefully, it would be enough to hold them over until I could stop at the store on the way home.
10:43 The kids had polished off their food, and James was fed and freshly changed. Just as I was starting to feel confident we would get out the door soon, John announces, "Mommy, I have a raisin up my nose." I look, and sure enough, a raisin is wedged fairly high in his nostril. I have him blow a few times to no avail. A trip to the doctor was definitely not in my plans. I weigh my choices, and decide to wake Hamilton, who had just worked a night shift but is much better at such predicaments. With me holding our son in a head lock, daddy is able to pull out the raisin. Relieved, I thank my sleepy husband.
11:16 I discover Belle has tied herself to a chair. As I am cutting her loose, she is intently narrating a very imaginative story. I feel sort of guilty about interrupting her, but I really want to get out the door in the near future. I send the kids to the bathroom before we leave. Somehow, John completely soils his shirt, and I have to change him. As Belle searches for her lost jacket, I almost decide to surrender and just stay home, but I get an extra burst of determination and pile my little crew into the Suburban.
12:15 We finally arrive to pick daffodils. It is a beautiful day, and the field of flowers is a refreshing sight after all the bleak weather and sickness we have had. As I watch my sweet children gathering handfuls of cheerful looking flowers, my spirits are lifted. I experience a wave of peaceful appreciation of God's creation, and I am glad I made the effort to take the kids to the fields. As John tosses flowers into the stroller for his "little buddy," I notice even James seems to be enjoying our little outing.
1:00 We have stopped picking flowers, but we are still playing in the Daffodil fields. The kids have found a large beautiful tree to play under and are both in full imagination mode. John is hunting, and Belle is setting up camp. She plants herself to a stump and declares she is Alice (from the Far Side of the Mountain). Later, Belle pretends she is a blade of grass, and John acts like an animal from Wild Kratts. Obviously, my kids were full of energy, and the outer edge of the daffodil field was a lovely place to expend it!
1:15 We finally go to the tent to pay for our flowers, which are quite battered after the last hour in the hands of my rough children. Grandma has a lot of quarters, so both kids get a quick Math lesson. Someone in line asks if we homeschool. I suppose we do fit the bill :)
1:35 After snacks and nursing the baby, we are back in route to Beaufort. John claims he can't fall asleep in the car due to all the distracting noises. I know we will have an afternoon of whining from the missed nap, but our little adventure was definitely worth it. Raisins, daffodils, beautiful smiles and imaginations make for great memories.
