Such a great day.

A few years back, I posted on here what a perfect day in my life would seem like.  Today came really close.

It was our first morning back to school after the fun and frenzy of Spring Break week.  I got up early enough to brush all three pets really well.  I was completely prepared this morning, with lunches made and backpacks packed before I helped Joel get ready.  Both boys did great and were ready early.  No fighting with Gabriel, my head-in-the-clouds, constantly pretending kid who has a tendency to let time get away from him while getting ready to go anywhere.  I also had time to feed Zoe enough.  She is having thyroid issues and can't eat too much at one time.  I'm feeding her tiny portions 7 or 8 times a day, and I usually don't have time to get more than two of them and feel I'm leaving her hungry.  I can't leave either cats' food down because her food might mess up Bones's thyroid and his food will cause her thyroid to get unregulated again.  But I had time to feed her three good times and felt better this morning.

I felt so calmed that everyone got off on time and were pretty happy this morning that I was in a good mood about going to work.  I've had one of my favorite jazz CD's in the car, "The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery" that helped me stay in my good and focused mood.  Work was easy today, nothing stressful like last Friday when both the Purchasing Manager and my boss (who covers for her) were out on Friday.  That day was a zoo, but today everyone was back and I even had to time to research some old problems.

Jojo was in a great mood after school.  I had put green M&M's in both boys lunches to surprise them for St. Patrick's Day.  They NEVER get candy at school so he was very happy.  We went home and while he played his current obsession, WII bowling, I had a FANTASTIC session of yoga.  For some reason I was really limber today and it felt like I stretched out and relaxed every muscle in my body.  I'm a little worried I will be sore tomorrow.  But it felt great.  Then Jojo and I read two books together and took a short nap.  These days if I can just put my feet up for 30 minutes I can make it through pretty well.  I snuck out from under his cuddling arms and he slept another half hour, right up until we had to pick up Gabriel.

Jojo and I wore St. Patrick day leprechaun hats to surprise Gabriel and make him laugh.  We made a bunch of people at their school laugh!    When we got home I put some Celtic music on (one of my favorite CD's, Solas, which I should listen to more often).  We danced some reels and jigs and got really dizzy and fell down together.  It was SO FUN!!!  Then Gabriel had a bunch of homework, so I gathered up Jojo for some art time.  We really fell behind getting our boys interested in drawing or writing and are having to play catch up with both of them now.  So I decided every Monday while G does homework, J and I will be working on small motor skills!  We ended up having so much fun, and it was a boost of confidence for him to realize he COULD draw ducks and trees and mountains.  

After G's homework he had to take a shower because he had Cub Scouts tonight and gets home late.  While he did that I vacuumed a little, and finished up the loads of laundry I had started.  I started dinner, Green Eggs and Ham breakfast tacos and avocado.  It went quickly and Gabriel got to stir in the green food coloring that turned the whole egg mixture bright green.  Jojo wouldn't try them, but ate ALL of his avocado, chips and PB&J.  We had Little Debbie St. Patrick Day cakes for dessert.  Gabriel was ready early for scouts, so Jojo and I got ready too and we all left to walk Tucker.  We met up with Jav on the road and he took G on to Scouts.  Jojo ran almost the entire time I walked, and I know he is sleeping well right now.  AND he was still hungry and asking for yogurt when we got home.  Can you say Growth Spurt?  Either that or the kid has turned some corner about not wanting to eat more than 8 things.  Lord help me I can't tell you how happy it makes me, whatever the reason!   

I gave Joel a bath, and we cuddled up for 2 more books.  We've been getting library books after a big break from going there, and he is LOVING the new books.  He was still barely awake to tell Daddy and Ba-Ba goodnight when they got home.  Gabriel had a great meeting and learned all about the city's recycling program from a guest speaker who was funny enough to keep their attention.  The last thing Jojo said to me before I walked out of their room was something about eating tomorrow at Tita's house.  More food?  It cracked me up.  Then I made lunches while I chatted with Jav about the day before coming in here to get ready for bed and type this.  

I was on time everywhere.  I spent time with pets and got some good exercise.  I did some housework and laundry.  I got to take a nap.  I got to dance with my kids and spend a little time with my husband.  We laughed alot and had great conversations all day.  

PERFECT DAY, I tell you.  I'm exhausted!  But feeling very blessed.

They both make me cry.

I was listening to the Michael Feinstein NPR radio show after taking my shower last night, something that's just on every Sunday night from 9-10 pm and I always happen to catch.  He interviews a singer or singer/songwriter(s) and plays recordings of their music, and asks the guest to sing a song or two.  They talk about influences, and other singers and writers, and other great songs.  It would be very interesting and I'd have no complaints about it, execpt for the really annoying part of the show: Michael Feinstein has to perform at least one song with them.  I'm not listening to know more about HIM or listen to him pompously sing and play along.  He also very simpering, and seems to always have a story to tell the guest about some brush with someone they know or knew, making it seem like he runs in so many musical circles that there is no one he doesn't have a connection to.  Can you tell he annoys me a little?

But I digress with my rant.  Tonight he had as guests Noel (Paul) Stookey and Peter Yarrow, the surviving members of Peter, Paul and Mary.  My parents were fans of the folk movement, and had their greatest hits album.  I listened to it alot, and came to love the songs eventually as they performed them.  I also explored the originals of the great covers they did that had become hits.  This interview was wonderful, with both men performing quite a bit more than the average guests.  For some reason it didn't annoy me near as much this time when Feinstein sang along with them - I was a bit sad to not hear Mary's beautiful clear voice rising above the men's, and it helped to sooth that sadness to hear another voice singing along.

I had a realization when I was thinking about those songs.  I loved Puff, the Magic Dragon as a kid.  But as I got older, the song made me so sad that I really didn't like listening to it anymore.  I began to skip it when I listened to the CD I finally bought of the album my parents had.  There is something so sad about thinking about kids growing up and not playing with their toys anymore.  And this was even before I had children!  Then I thought about Toy Story, and how those movies have affected me over the years.  It's really the same concept, isn't it?  Now that I have kids of my own, I really can't even think about words to the song anymore.  I also have trouble watching the very end of Toy Story 3, when Andy plays with his toys as a college-bound teenager one last time.  I'm starting to sob just thinking about it.

It made me wonder if the screenwriters for the movie were influenced at all by that song.  I couldn't find anything online about a connection, but I can't help but think there may be one somehow.  The emotions that they stir are just too similar for it to be a coincidence. The lesson that both teach very well is to take time to enjoy your kids while they're little.  Try to soak up as many minutes as you can, because the minutes turn into hours, days, weeks, months so quickly.  Gabriel is losing his little-ness already.  The boy will be a teenager before we know it.  Jojo still has some being little time.  He still speaks with his cute baby talk and cuddles up with us all the time.  So many things fall by the wayside these days - housework, exercise, down time.  But those things just aren't as important as one day looking back and realizing I did all I could to soak up this time.