Practically Perfect

Today was nearly perfect.

Why?

Cooper and Phoebe both got lots of sleep and were happy and sweet when they woke up. We did bedtime just a little bit early last night and I was afraid they would wake up before the sun, but they slept in much more than usual. I'm going to see if I can replicate the results tomorrow.

I was able to fold and put away four loads of laundry and prepare something other than cold cereal for breakfast, all before Phoebe awoke. Usually I can't fold laundry when the kids are awake because they love to come running through my piles of neatly folded clothes. This does not a happy mommy make. Today the boys sat and read and talked to me. No running. It was a nice change. And Peter has been requesting oatmeal for days and I was finally up early enough that I could make it. I love that we consider oatmeal a fancy breakfast.

We went to the park and enjoyed warm sunshine with a cool breeze, a splendid combination. During the walk to the park I breathed in the delicious late-summer smells and thought about how idyllic our path was, covered with shadows from overhanging branches. The boys loved it because we saw a huge earthworm, a grasshopper, a leaf bug, and many ants. It was almost as good as going to the zoo.

We played with friends. The park is always better when friends are there.

I actually made dinner, something that I haven't done much of lately. I think that may be the only thing about summer that I don't adore: it's too hot to cook. But Phoebe had a fantastic nap during Cooper's quiet time, so I seized the opportunity and got dinner going before the dreaded four-o'clock-crazy that tends to descend upon my house.

The boys were pretty well behaved up until five-thirty, well past the usual bewitching hour. I'm sure that helped with the perfectness of the day.

We did have a little trauma with bedtime. (Peter said he'd rather disobey and sit in time-out than obey, so I granted his wish. Don't worry he's back in his bed and, hopefully, asleep.) But even with a rough end, today was still wonderful. That's why I'm writing about it. I'll need to remember on difficult days in the future that days like today exist.