another good day

Coming off of this perfect spring weekend, I feel sunned and tired and happy. And deeply grateful for the peaceful, happy birthday party we had for Gabriel yesterday.

What was so good about it, you ask? Well, geez, if you really want to know, I suppose I'll have to share some highlights. Just picture:

*A delighted boy and girl, reveling in the attentions of all three of their grandparents.

*Me, reveling in the space and freedom that comes with three adoring grandparents in the house.

*Me, struck by intermittent tidal waves of gratitude for the harmony and ease between my mother and Mike's parents. And love for all three of them.

*The simple joy of chocolate cake (and the simple joy of making a chocolate cake that one's children blissfully devour).

*A confluence of events that I can only look to the path of the stars in their heavens to explain: I was able to set aside my deep-running Fear of Sport and my children were happily engaged by other people instead of hanging on my legs and Mike and I were together on a beautiful sunny afternoon feeling full of life and what do you think happened? My husband and I had a catch! With Gabriel's new blue-and-orange foam football! And I LOVED it!! I felt giddy, like Frances, who...but wait, that's another item:

*Frances played catch! She caught the ball five times in a row with her Poppy! She did not walk away discouraged, she did not turn the game into some crazy imaginary scenario that no one else can enter into - she played. And she was thrilled to be playing. We all shared her happiness, wholeheartedly. She also liked the party hats and was a wizard most of the day.

*Our wonderful friends made the party a party, bringing festive energy, a love of cake and ice cream, and a willingness to make friends with everyone else in attendance. And I got to play soccer with Nathaniel - a real soccer player - and quibble over goal lines. One game of catch and I'm ready to get serious over backyard sports.

So. It was all beautiful. Today was beautiful too, and my favorite part was the first truly successful, mutually satisfying family gardening endeavor of the season: planting seed potatoes. I highly recommend it for the five and under set. And the five and over set, come to think of it. What could be more satisfying than digging holes and dropping golf ball-sized potato chunks into them?

You laugh. Don't knock it til you try it.

I hope the spring is just as beautiful where you are, and that life is allowing you the time and inclination to enjoy it. To be renewed by it. Happy basking, friends.