Friday. The last day of the morning hustle before the weekend. By now, we have it down to a science, as most families likely do. Up at 6:30, the sun on full blast through our windows already, a few moments of hugs and snuggles with everyone in our bed. Jude gets his morning bottle. Another day begun. 

Next it's on to boy breakfast round one. Cereal. Always cereal. There used to be coffee for Matt, but not recently, not in a long while. I do my self-care routine: liquid vitamins, neti pot, a small shot of apple cider vinegar. Jude gets berries, which he adores.

Then there is lunch to be made. It's interesting. I have one boy who insists I never give him enough food despite the large amounts I manage to stuff in his sack, and another who comes home with almost everything uneaten. The latter using it for an after school snack instead. Lunch is usually a sandwich (or bean burrito or bean quesadilla, or pasta salad, or veggie dogs) with some cut up fruit and vegetable, and some kind of crunchy snack. Sometimes there are nuts. Salty macadamias are a favorite.

Boy breakfast round two. Today it was a mango banana yogurt honey smoothie (with some bee pollen. of course.) 

Then the rest of days' preparations begin. Dressing, brushing, straightening, cleaning. Hair brushed, socks, shoes, kisses, and then out the door. Suddenly the house is quiet. Jude and I share a smile. Then it's time for us to eat. He and I each have one slice of toast with avocado, Vegenaise and some sea salt. Then there's yogurt, and we share some peppermint tea. He's quickly become my eating partner, only wanting what I fix for myself. 

The morning ritual is a rhythm that, despite it's sometimes rushed and harried elements, feels healthy like a morning run. It's the way we have to look at it in the face of time that has to be respected and attended to. It's also what allows the weekends to feel so blessedly restful.