Spending All Day Outside

Our days look so much different out here than they do in town.

Back home, our days are mostly spent inside working, cleaning, and doing school, with the occasional walk outside now that they weather is a little warmer. Here, though, we spend more time outside than in. We spent so much time outside yesterday that I actually got a little sunburnt. There’s just so much more to DO here, I’m honestly not used to it. It’s exciting and overwhelming and beautiful in the best way.

Right now the kiddos are outside playing with their monster trucks in the dirt and pretending it’s Jurassic Park with toy dinosaurs (and fighting during all of this, but that’s beside the point) and PJ is riding the tractor smoothing out all the gravel that got delivered yesterday for the new driveway (yay!). Basically, there’s just a lot more going on here than at our townhouse. Every day there’s something to be done, a project to be completed, a different path to make, and just all together so much life to be lived here.

I know it could just be that this is a (somewhat) new place and it all seems more exciting because of that, but I think the majority of it is because, truly, it’s just a better environment for our family. PJ grew up on a farm and spent more time outside than inside for most of his childhood, and he was always swimming in creeks and playing with animals and climbing trees, and it’s that kind of lifestyle we want for the kids.

Back home, it’s sidewalks and streets and a tiny yard, which is great, it really is, and we love our home and neighborhood, but I think for this season of life we’re in right now, and because we have access to it, we want to spend as much time letting them get dirty and running around as we can.

Growing up, I never in a million years thought I would ever want to spend time on land. I grew up in the middle of town (in the house we live in now, actually!) and I loved the convenience of being close to everything, I loved seeing the people walking on the sidewalks, I loved living near parks. I loved living in town. But things are different now with the kids and the animals. Isn’t it wild how things change so drastically? Now, I find myself wanting to be at Holiday House more than at home. And we already know PJ could live out here forever and be the happiest person alive.