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It’s family.
October 17, 2011

In my kitchen, I just swept up a full dust pan worth of long weekend.

Over the last six days we have had two to ten loved ones humming in our home. It was simultaneously nuts and relaxing. You know, when a large group is trying to arrange nap schedules and negotiate large meals it can seem unattainable but then it always settles into the perfect pattern of exactly how it is supposed to be with everyone taking turns reading books, chopping vegetables, pouring beverages, showering, walking dogs. It’s happy chaos. It’s family.

Photobucket cousins in grandma-given pigtails

Every once in a while Andy and I will see a large family or talk to his stepmom who is one of 16 kids and we’ll have a conversation like, Holy cow! Can you imagine? How would we get anything done or get out the door? But this weekend as I watched Andy slap together nine gourmet sandwiches in about three minutes and we participated in the many-vehicle, many bathing suit, many snack entourage to the swimming pool, I realized that a biomass of family is pretty amazing and efficient, no matter the actual number. It’s like one big contemporary jazz piece, the ones that sound like the musicians forgot to practice and their instruments are out of tune but eventually the wild noise morphs into patterned harmony. I’m groovin’.

So today I am loving my quiet house and the constantly uncovered evidence of the last few days. So far I have a pair of shoes, a t shirt, cell phone charger and one sock in a pile to be sent back to their owners. I am still looking for a small brown train and a purple eyeglasses case. There isn’t a clean towel in the house and all beds are stripped. Approximately seven million hair elastics pepper the living room and baskets of pears, apples and plums continue to wait on the kitchen floor.

Now we turn to our daily activity, fueled by having just absorbed the energy and love of my creative, generous, funny, opinionated family. To me, there really is nothing more important and rich than family of blood, family of choice. And it is because they were here that I couldn’t be here and why my mama digs is late. I just couldn’t bear to work when they were convening in my kitchen. My column and nuggets will be up on Wednesday.

xo
dig

:: :: ::

all photos taken with a Canon Digital SLR from Vanns.com

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9 Comments


Liane
October 17, 2011 at 9:30 PM

The photo is adorable! x



rebecca...
October 17, 2011 at 11:11 PM

,,,i love the “humming” in our home right now, with the start of a new season everything and everyone is coming alive,,,oh happy day, oh happy home!,,,



Kelle
October 18, 2011 at 1:53 AM

I dream of a biomass of family every single day.

Grandma-given pigtails: Swoon. Grandmas give the best ones.

Miss you. Due for long conversation. How ’bout I just get in the car and drive to Fort Myers and back just to talk to you? Because that’s how it works, my friend.

xo



KWQR
October 18, 2011 at 3:04 AM

Oh I love this… It’s like one big contemporary jazz piece, the ones that sound like the musicians forgot to practice and their instruments are out of tune but eventually the wild noise morphs into patterned harmony. I’m groovin’.
So true… love how you put it. I am going to so miss the flowing chaos of big family gatherings these holidays. With a due date of Dec 29th & babies that like to come weeks early, we won’t be doing any traveling. Will instead be hibernating with my little bears, waiting for the littlest to arrive. Pretty lovely alternative, indeed.
And grandma pigtails are the best!
xo
Kate



TRB Holt
October 18, 2011 at 12:25 PM

I love how Ruby’s little hand is reaching out…so reassured by being near her sister!

Have a great week sweetie!

xoxo, Mom



Annie
October 18, 2011 at 12:30 PM

Summed it up beautifully. This is how it is when my family gets together…including the opinionated part : )



Caroline
October 18, 2011 at 1:32 PM

Wise choice.



Tonya
October 18, 2011 at 2:43 PM

As the Mom of a large family, I want to say you described it so well! Moments of utter chaos turn into calm that turn back into chaos all day long LOL Usually, I love it ; ) Sometimes I just have to laugh to get through the craziness.



Melina
October 18, 2011 at 8:06 PM

My dear Nici,

I close my eyes while reading this post and smell wood smoke, fresh Montana air with a chill, the tang of leaves falling, onions simmering on the stove, apples being peeled and sprinkled with sugar. Nici, this is how I was raised (why am I tearing up? I must be so homesick, so ready to go East TOMORROW!!) this is how I was raised and I am such a happy person, and I look back on childhood and feel the most tremendous luck.

I’m so sorry to be mooshy today, but put this in your back pocket and bring it out whenever you need it:

You are doing everything right.

much love
Melina



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    I’m Nici (pronounced like Nikki) and I live in western Montana where I raise kids, vegetables and the roof.

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