and now all 5 embrace the mud

When it rains at our house, the water hangs out for quite a while. The water table is so high we have crawdads coming out of our yard! All that really means is when it rains, we get mud. Lots of mud.

In the past my youngest has avoided the mud. Her senses weren’t big fans for the overload that comes with mud. Something changed this year and she was all in. Literally – all in.
We’ve been in our house for almost 11 years now. Spring romps in the mud are about as common of a tradition as turkey on Thanksgiving. I grew up making mud pies with my sister, so it has always just been a part of childhood to me. I’m grateful for mud. I’m also grateful when it dries up and the floors of my home aren’t so dirty!

The next three photos were taken three years ago. They are among my all-time favorite photos of the boys. Pure and simple joy captured. Their smiles, their arms around each other, their skinny little boy bodies – ugh, it is bittersweet for this momma.

The boys and I have been looking at old pictures lately. I told them we should re-create some of my favorites. I know the new ones with their bigger bodies, smiles with braces, and adolescence will still make me smile just as big.

Just for fun – below are links to old blog posts with mud themes. I was surprised how many I found!