Outtakes

Outtakes.

One of the biggest priorities of our day is timing the all-precious simultaneous nap. 

Oh, I love playtime and cuddle time and toddler conversations, but, nap time?

There's really nothing like it. 

These couple of hours, in all honesty, can be spent in various ways, usually cleaning, laundering, cooking or, yes, blogging, but regardless, it's the quiet and alone time that's cherished. 

On the weekends, even more so. 

Again, most of the time, the hubs and I go our separate ways, sometimes more intentionally than others...mowing, dishes, vacuuming, errands, it all has to be done.

But, sometimes, just sometimes, it's our time to veg, to tune out to the tube or,
like yesterday, to reminisce some of the outtakes of our relationship. 

Actually, we, quite by accident, stumbled across some of the sappy syrupy notes, or should I call them pure cheese of our past, and read through them....

Oh they were embarrassing.

But seriously,

how things so easily change, shift.

Inside jokes, now too often diaper changing negotiation.

Ridiculous pet names...direct requests and simple replies. 

Dreamy ambitions...budgeted, calculated plans. 

It happens, it's growth, it's life. 

But we found ourselves equally challenged by our little reminiscent vacation down cheese lane, 

to live a little more in the outtakes of life.

Maybe we could

cuddle just a little longer, a little closer after the alarm clock,

give a little more space, a little more respect when life closes in,

remember the laughter, reignite the pet names, share visions together...

even when, especially when the dishes are dirty, diaper pails full and budget empty. 

Outtakes.

Actually, these pictures were taken as Chris's birthday wish for a few with his munchkins.

And, really, the beauty of the attempt,

perhaps like life,

is in the outtakes.

We grow, we mature, we try, we plan.

And, yet, life never really goes according to calculation.

I can try to adjust it, try to control it,

Or, quite simply,

Cherish the outtakes.