{Free Range} Children

Freckles are beginning to dot little noses, tiny feet are kicking off rubber boots and exploring the grass and sand, imaginations are being used and creativity flourishing …

My little brother and hubby made this fabulous swing set for the girls – they just LOVE it …

We are *thiiiiiisssssss* close to being done school officially and boy, does it feel fabulous to {almost} be in the wonderful, glowing days of summer  … we are already outside more than we are inside … reading while sprawled out blankets on the lawn … wandering down to the girls’ new favorite ‘creek’, and learning more about life with growing {somewhat stinky?} ducks and chicks …

We are amazed at how fast the ducklings are growing … {one week ago}

to this …

My husband made this duck house and we are still working on the run to be safe from predators- today, the little ducks spent their first day outside …it really was time. They were stinking up the house! It was awful  …  outside is much better! We will still bring them in at night for now as it’s still quite chilly in Ontario.

We’ve always loved being outside, playing and getting dirty … it would be rare to find us indoors come the nicer weather … but this year, there’s so much more to explore and imagine and create and do … not to mention the work (we have a huge list of things that need to be done around our new place – it’s rather daunting) … I consider this a free range childhood … to see the girls running through the field, playing and imaging, not restrained by boundaries (not so much) and just getting dirty .. it’s fantastic. There seems to be a great opportunity to work together as a family, to teach the girls hard work ethics (something, I believe, both sides of parents passed down to Abby and I) and to have good, old fashioned fun  …

{To be honest, I’ll be just like a little girl again when the fireflies come out … they are one of my favorite things! I always loved spending my nights outside as a little girl, watching them glow and fade in the farmer’s fields …}

{rowing their ‘boats’}

… a free range childhood.

My mom shared this quote and I agree …

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”
-Margaret Atwood

It certainly is the case around here lately …