I finished up teaching The Hometown Workshop a few weeks ago (I rented an old house built in the late 1800's and decorated it with my own belongings for a bunch of my past students who flew in from all over the world to stay in - and then for four days, we learned, laughed, cried and ate ridiculous amounts of food.) and when the fun was all over, my house looked like this...
And my front porch looked like this...
And because of the overwhelming mess, my face looked like this...
So I did the only thing I could think to do...I got in my car (which was also a mess) and decided not to come home until bedtime.
And when I picked up the kids from school and told them of my plan, they looked like this...
And so we drove to Ashland and grabbed an early dinner...
And walked around town...
And put up our hair...
That's Courtney's new favorite way to have her hair done. (She asked Cole to take a picture of her so she could see what it looked like in the viewfinder.)
And then we went to the park...
But this one couldn't play until he got his homework done...
And this one played, but with a look on her face that reminded me that the angsty-teenage years are just around the corner...
And this one played...
And played...
And played...
And played some more...
And then we walked to the movie theater, only to find that the movie we wanted to see (The Odd Life of Timothy Green) was actually playing at a different theater across town.
So the four of us sprinted about five or six blocks (Good thing I hadn't broken my leg yet.), hopped in the car, drove across town and made it to our seats just as the movie started. (Its times like those when I'm actually thankful that they play 15 minutes worth of previews.)
And (just as I had planed) it was bedtime when we got home.
Your blog and your stories always make me smile :)
Posted by: Kris | October 10, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Who made that mess?
Posted by: Kelli | October 10, 2012 at 11:40 AM
what a perfect day!
Posted by: amanda | October 10, 2012 at 11:52 AM
sounds like a perfect day to me!!!
Posted by: Nicky from Okotoks | October 10, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Whoa, that picture of you doing Courtney's hair? You can totally tell what she is going to look like as an adult! Isn't it crazy when you catch glimpses like that?!
Posted by: Nichole | October 10, 2012 at 01:16 PM
i can't beleive how grown up Courtney is starting to look!!! how is Josh handling that? LOVE all your furniture pieces!!!!!!
Posted by: Nicole Campbell | October 10, 2012 at 01:25 PM
Love it. Now... more about the Hometown Workshop!!! I'm so eager, but I have to wait almost a whole year! Give me more to dream about in the meantime!
Posted by: Kim | October 10, 2012 at 01:27 PM
wooHOO!! TWO POSTS! I so love catching up with Karen!
Stacey
Posted by: Stacey | October 10, 2012 at 01:28 PM
Did that movie make you cry? Holy cow, I was bawling my eyes out at the end. Looks like a perfect day.
Can't wait until next fall when I will actually be at the Hometown Workshop!!
Posted by: Sara Mangan | October 10, 2012 at 01:54 PM
And that is the only way to handle that mess...I totally agree!! You go girl!! So wish I could have been there!
Posted by: Tracy | October 10, 2012 at 02:34 PM
Love the park photos of Annie up the climbing frame....soooooooooooooooooooooo jealous of the workshop, it's just too far away for this single mum given I'm the sole carer of my little two. Sorry to hear about your leg.............maybe some forced down time hey!!!
Posted by: Kathy | October 10, 2012 at 04:33 PM
And life is so so good! You are so wise and such a great mom! Always takes me to a "good spot" when I read your blog. Thinking of you!
Posted by: janel | October 10, 2012 at 04:58 PM
You really do it up...whatever you do! Love the idea of renting a house for the workshop. Maybe you need to go ahead and buy it while you're at it (since you go all out and all...).
I'm gonna have to read on about your broken leg...oh my goodness.
Posted by: kat-in-texas | October 10, 2012 at 05:12 PM
Love the look on your face and the look on the kiddo's faces too :) Also I love the shot's Coley took he is becoming quite the photographer himself!
Posted by: Deneen | October 10, 2012 at 06:08 PM
Sounds like a perfect solution! And, I can't wait to hear more about the Hometown Workshop...I'll help you clean up next time, if you want. :)
Posted by: Liz H | October 10, 2012 at 10:17 PM
Oh, Karen. So glad you made it a great day after the workshop. So sorry you then broke your leg - ouch! Looking at all the things you brought back from the house.... props? Can't wait for next year and hearing more about the inaugural workshop!
Posted by: sharon | October 11, 2012 at 06:43 PM
Sometimes running away is the best solution for a mess! Looks like a hoot!
Posted by: able mabel | October 13, 2012 at 08:00 AM
I just LOVE your photography!!!! It's my favorite!
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