Today we got a wild hair(those wild hairs that seem to come more often to the Crofts' parents than anyone else)and tore(literally broke and crumbled)down the play set with the John Deere and moved the play chips out of the way and had Eugene Sand and Gravel haul in sand straight from the beach of Florence, Oregon. This sand is to die for. When I say beach sand, I am talkin' BEACH SAND! We ordered 24 cubic yards and decided that perhaps that wouldn't suffice and ordered another 24 for delivery next Monday. 48 cubic yards of sand in our back yard! Wonderful if it can stay in the yard. My kids spend hours out there on their knolls in the silence of mid-day sun and used their imagination sculpting, digging, resting, pretending and enjoying the cool, wet sand that is hidden beneath the scorching hot surface sand.
I have found that when I visit our little beach(with or without kids) and just let the sand tickle my toes and run along the tops of my feet, or if I grab a handful and watch as it slowly sifts through my fingers I get lost in imagination. I dream. I'm calm. I am impressible. All of the above mentioned are quite anomalous....considering Maryann's ways.
I have to remember though, when I walk into the kitchen with my bare pigs and shuffle through piles of gritty sand spread so unevenly on the floor, or when the kids' clothes are caked with wet, sticky sand, or the the sand trail down the hall....that it's all fine. It all cleans up so quickly once it's dry. I watch them as they completely enjoy themselves when they play out there and it lifts my soul to see that. It's even better when I get a personal invite to join them in their beach parties. Granted, I have to be in the mood, but I try to ardently accept all invites(how can I not when I see their beautiful faces and bright smiles and unleashed excitement)?
So in all, we love our sand. I try hard to forget about the small "sandy" stuff. We have yet another piece of heaven right here in our yard.
p.s. Amber wanted nothing to do with the feet pose!
