It's busy having four kids, and one thing that tears me apart a little these days is the lack of one-on-one time with them. Some days I feel like I never get to properly be present for them, because there's always someone else talking and I have to split my brain into four parts. (Yes, I am exhausted.) 

Today though. Ronja and Billie and I (and the wolf cub of course, he's always with me, snug as a bug in his wrap) went for a long walk in the woods above the farm. There was a slight breeze, the last leaves were dropping from their branches like little parachutes, the sun was bright in the sky, and the temperature was just right. And we talked about small things and big things, and it was just plain lovely to be out there with her. My wise, beautiful almost-eleven-year-old.