It’s been a quiet day, here, at our house.

Let’s just look at that sentence and give it some space.

The kids played outside while I putzed around the yard this morning, my mom and one of my aunts came for a short visit around noon, then after lunch I met Paul at his office and he took the kids for a treat while I worked out. Coming home the storm clouds were gathering so I ran around and picked up all the things that needed to be put away: books, tools, cushions, toys and wheelbarrows.

It was an excellent storm.

The kids watched it while playing pioneers. Lydia dressed up in a black dress and wore an apron. Eden put on her Koala costume. Perhaps they were Australian pioneers. There was a brief bit of trouble when I needed to remove a rifle from Christopher because he shot Eden. The next thing I knew Lydia was trying to set it above a portrait. As I was about to question her I realized she was just feathering her pioneer nest. I recommended the mantel. They played quietly and then read while I looked through garden books.

The koala became a little tired so I layed her down on my bed and then cuddled beside her reading a novel. She was soon asleep. The window was open and a cool breeze gently blew on us. It would have been perfect if I had showered after my workout so that I could have crawled under the covers. Christopher and Lydia came in at different times to check on us and to admire Eden’s sweetness.

Neither of them could resist kissing her.