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driveway picnic
September 6, 2014

My kids had this big idea. We would picnic in the truck bed in our driveway.

Despite their charm and conviction, it didn’t sound appealing. We said you guys can eat out there, we will eat on the deck.

They ran back and forth from bedroom to driveway with blankets and pillows and dolls. Their trail a wildfire of mess and excitement.

Of course their flames caught us. Of course we would all eat in the truck. In the sawdust, compost and puddles.

Our neighbor turned six today. His grandma gave him a remote controlled car. It’s held court in our hood all day, that car. It is the subject of negotiation and triumph, of compromise and defeat.

As we were dining in the truck in the driveway, the birthday boy and his sister neared and joined our party. We ate friend rice and talked about being six, cheered for successful car launches off of curbs.

Just before they left, the birthday boy grabbed my phone and snapped a few photos.

retreated away form the mess, the piles, the lists
retreated toward our daughters’ earnest inclination
into the bed of a small, old pickup truck
last bits of late summer light
gray hair at my temples,
laugh lines mostly from my husband’s humor
bandaid on one bloodied knee
she learned to ride a bike earlier today
she took off and fell hard
took off again, blood like a creek down her shin bone
wait for me!
she usually waits for her sister
sometimes because I yell for her to wait for her sister
her little sister, the one she leans into
to make goofy faces behind their parents’ backs
in the truck bed, in the driveway on this night
her little sister, the one that makes her the most furious
the one she wants to spoon when she sleeps

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10 Comments


Trbholt
September 6, 2014 at 1:54 PM

What a fun idea! I love all of you SO very much!



abby
September 7, 2014 at 5:44 AM

I read all of your posts but this one in particular makes me smile. We have girls about the same age as your girls and their interactions remind me of our own. I’m glad to hear that our girls aren’t the only ones that can be annoyed by each other but deeply love in the same day.



Kathleen
September 7, 2014 at 10:10 AM

Such a cute capture!



Patti Joyce Trombly
September 7, 2014 at 5:25 PM

Love this and your photos !



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September 8, 2014 at 7:19 AM

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Beth
September 8, 2014 at 1:38 PM

Thank you for sharing these glimpses into your family. You continue to inspire your readers to appreciate the beauty in the every day moments and cheerish the ever-changing landscape around them. I have 5 year old twin girls and they continue to amaze me with their brillant spontaneity.



Daniele
September 9, 2014 at 12:29 PM

Nici! It’s me, Daniele with one L! haha 😀
I love this! I haven’t left a comment in soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long 🙁 but I still read and get so much joy from your writing. My Vivian and Lily just turned 5 and 7 and seeing your girls grow over the years through your blog (been reading since Ruby was a baby) has totally paralleled my life with my girls. I cannot believe how big your girls are….how big our girls are. Enjoying the last tiny bits of summer too….sigh……xoxoxo



Rhett P Hoff
September 11, 2014 at 9:33 AM

Y’all are so fun! Love this post and the pix. When I first read the title, I saw “Driveway Panic”! 🙂



CaliGal
September 18, 2014 at 6:54 PM

Hi…Long time reader, first time commenting….
Love, LOVE your family and the way you live your life.
Too beautiful for words. 🙂

Just dropping in as it’s been a little while since you’ve posted and I’m just hoping all is well.

Thanks. 🙂 Peace.



CMB
September 22, 2014 at 2:06 PM

WOW these are great photos!! You’ve GOTTA love these!! 🙂



  • hello and welcome

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

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