Almost Heaven...

Yesterday was almost heaven on earth. It was a simple day, but I love simplicity.

We enjoyed on a LOOONG walk in the morning with the sun shining down, the perfect temp and spring happening all around. I got my first sunburn of the season (mostly just pink and gone by today). Jane slept for 3 hours in the stroller and Caleb drove his bike along side me talking endlessly of a crazy machine he wants to invent that can climb trees, cruise over ice, go in water and fly. The details he imagined were plentiful. (OK, the talking endlessly got a tad bit annoying!) We stopped at the park mid-walk where Norah charmed a cute 5 year old red-head into playing with her. Norah always has some stranger charmed by her utter cuteness.

Caleb and Ivie played and played all afternoon like best friends. They created some hut in the backyard where they read their beloved dragon books and imagined a world for their toy dragons named Nevesh, Hulstrom, Gracie and Toothless. I felt like I had succeeded as a mother when I heard lots of, "May I please, and Thank you" and saw them having so much fun together! Ivie even said, "Caleb is the best brother! I love him." Whoa. I wonder how long it will be until I hear that again!

I took a nap while Norah and Jane slept and Caleb and Ivie ran wild and unsupervised outside. I did ask them to say on our property though...

We spread a blanket on the lawn for a dinner picnic feast where the children ate mostly a whole bag of Bugles.

I wanted to get out and see our new hometown in the spring, so we went on a drive to some of the nearby farming communities. Oh how I love beautiful farms. To me, they represent simplicity, hard work, wholesomeness, and family.

Our drive ended with chocolate frosties.

The littles were put to bed then Caleb, Ivie and I played games until way too late. We're finally past the Candyland phase of game playing. It's actually quite fun now.

After games, we all cuddled in my bed and fell asleep...(until Jane and Norah woke me up 50 times).

It really was almost the perfect day, even though Norah drew all over herself with a permanent marker, tore down all of her wall decor above her bed (I'm stupid for putting it there I guess), dumped out her frosty and smeared it all over her high chair tray, and went #2 in the bathtub AGAIN! That is THE MOST disgusting part of motherhood.

The thing that would have truly made it heaven on earth is if Wes could have spent the day with us. But he is doing his fatherly duty to provide for his family. In this case, that means taking his final oral board exam, the last exam he will agonize over for a REALLY LONG time, perhaps even FOREVER! Goodbye to the days of tests. Thank you, Wesley for taking care of us.

I'm so thankful that sometimes I stop long enough to enjoy these little ones in my life and remember that I have a heaven on earth in my home with 4 little children and 1 practically perfect husband. I count it a great blessing to spend my days with them.