Lazy Saturday

Today has been a magnificent day. The weather in central Wisconsin was amazing today: 60 degrees, a light breeze and warm indirect sunshine.

Little Gus arose early, but by some miraculous feet snuggled under the down comforter with me in my toasty bed and fell back asleep until nearly 8:00! Ms. Crazy Preschooler joined us after a bit, and she fell back asleep too! When everyone had finally had breakfast and shed their pajamas for real clothes, we pulled up the wilted plants from our flower beds. Sarah said she didn't want her hair brushed today, and I said OK; it was Saturday. I pulled and raked the flower beds while Ms. CP and Gus pushed around wagons and baby buggies. Gus just learned to push things around, and it is a different world outside. He loves getting around on his legs, and even more loves having Ms. CP run circles around him! Actually, Ms. CP is a big help, since Gus can only push in one direction (he lacks the ability to turn around) she watches until he gets to the end of the yard or gets stuck up against a tree and then heads him off in a new direction. I can get a lot done while they are busy entertaining themselves.

I cooked the most delicious hamburgers on the grill for lunch, just the way I like them: thin, well done with a crispy exterior and a thin slice of cheese melted on top. We ate them on delicious whole wheat buns. I made chocolate chip cookies just for fun. They turned out terrific.

While Gus was napping, Ms. CP and I carved pumpkins outside, because the weather was so beautiful. We made two faces, a bat and two eighth notes. There are two pumpkins left to finish tomorrow.

While Ms. CP was having quiet time I sat down and READ a book in the attic. Magnificent! I am still working on "Riding Bus with My Sister." I can't believe it is taking me so long to finish a book. I might get it done tonight though, since Dr. Pediatrician is on call.

And then, possibly the best part of the day was when I loaded up both kids and my camera into the stroller and we walked to the arboretum. It wasn't as beautiful as it was about 10 days ago, but I got some fun pictures just the same. We hiked through the arboretum and Ms. CP collected the best leaves into a snow hat I just happened to have in the stroller. She called it her leaf purse. At the end of the arboretum is a large complex of soccer fields enclosed by beautiful trees. Ms. CP loves running across the fields and rolling in the green grass. Little Gus had a great time crawling around and chasing his sister in circles. It is so fun for them to have a big open space that they can just move around in, such a treat, and something I took so much for granted growing up on a farm where there was certainly no lack of big spaces to move around in.

We had supper, Ms. CP had a bath, we read books and for a special treat, she and I played one game of Cathedral (with modified rules for a three year old). And so far she's only woken once this evening with a nightmare. A giraffe was in her room, I guess.