I’ve been sinking deeper into my life. Like a cozy set of pajamas you stay in a few extra hours on a Saturday, it’s this lounging calm, the burrowing into the days. Dave, Evelyn, and I are finding our groove with the structure of our routines.
After two days of whiny “I’m bored” during our 45-minute quiet time, Evelyn found her stride. Dave discovered her in the guest room—legs crossed, book in hand—after searching the whole house. Ever since, she’s been just as invested, if not more, in making sure she gets “her” time.
Then, realizing all we had for outdoor play was a lone kickball, we drove thirty minutes to Academy Sports for baseball gloves, a lightweight kid bat, and a squishy ball. Back home, with our new gear in hand, we headed straight for the front lawn. Barefoot in the lush green grass, twigs and acorns poking us every so often, we rotated pitcher, catcher, and batter.
Evelyn’s intrigue was sky-high. Every time she made contact, she’d ask, “What was that?”—hungry to learn the difference between fair and foul, base hits and boundaries. Her brain was a sponge, soaking it all in.
And unlike the half-hearted energy I sometimes bring to her dollhouse invitations, I was fully invested—throwing pitches, teaching skills, cheering her on. Truthfully, I loved the support too. Tomorrow, when Evelyn heads two doors down to play with Emma, I’ve already confirmed a just-me-and-Dave catch session.
Meanwhile, the tooth fairy is gathering her bag of tricks for a visit soon. Evelyn’s wiggly tooth is hanging on by what must be its last fibrous thread. I tried to tug it out—Dave squeamishly looking away—but no luck. We still need to make a Walmart run for the little toy the tooth fairy “always” brings.
I’m anti-money when it comes to the tooth fairy. It’s a new thing. After hosting a group of kids not long ago and hearing them talk about wanting cash, I thought—no kid should care this much about money. So now, when Evelyn asks if we have enough for something, my go-to answer is: “We have plenty.”
Meanwhile, the Mariners are on a seven-game winning streak. It’s impressive. Right now, it’s 2–2 in the bottom of the fourth—
Scratch that. Home run. JP Crawford just blasted one to center field.
Okay, I’m more invested in that than this, so I’d better skedaddle.
Love,
Jaclynn
Going On 40 