The natives are revolting.

The eldest is getting moody. The middle is getting irritable and the little one is literally revolting.

It is time for family maintenance.  Generally cleansing of the little dude who prefers to go barefoot and has feet full of slivers.

Getting the middle one out of the bunny hutch and fed. She heads out there first thing in the morning and I have started bringing her snacks when I bring the bunnies their fresh food.

And the eldest… well, she is missing her friends. She needs a chance to reconnect with the people she has a history with. And I get it it. It can be exhausted building relationships, always starting at the beginning and never being sure if the time invested will have a return

So, as any good parents do, we drag them into the forest.  Kids, dogs and snacks piled into the car as we made our way over to the start of an easy 5k hiking trail.

Full of attitude they exited the car (kids, not dogs.. not leapt forth into the birch forest not to be seen for an hour and only tracking us as went!)

And then we got in there.

A birch forest in the fall is a pretty magical place.  Our path was strewn with golden leaves and the silver trees went on to what seemed infinity.

As usual, the children dispersed and began to run. As they ran they let go of the bunny obsession, the worry about friendships and … well not the dirt, the dude just got dirtier.

And as much as they needed that moment to stop, so did we.  A moment to enjoy this place we had sacrificed so much for. A moment to welcome the fall.

Home, tired and hungry, but with better attitudes. Back to bunnies and emails and laundry and life.

But going back is a welcome return since we have been away for a moment.