Oh, what a day! The 60+ degree weather put me in a better mood than I’ve enjoyed in…well, months, and the day seemed to bubble along like it was trying to match my high spirits. The kids and I did a bunch of poking around/cleaning up in the backyard, with more to come tomorrow. I finally succeeded in getting my new contact lenses in AND out. (Okay, so my eyes are bloodshot and feel like they’ve been doing sit-ups, but still. Considering I almost gave up in the optometrist’s office, it’s an accomplishment.) Owen took a 2.5-hour nap and woke up smiling. Isaac and William helped me make egg salad and corn on the cob, and we had burgers on the grill for dinner and strawberries with whipped cream for dessert. When Jon got home from work the six of us went to the park for nearly two hours–it was full of kids playing impromptu games of soccer and tag and felt alive and vibrant and hopeful. When a tennis court finally opened up, Jon gave the big boys some pointers while the littles and I tossed the spare ball back and forth. I also ran some sprint races against Jacob and beat him soundly, which made this old mom feel pretty good. Ha! Tomorrow I’m having brunch with a friend and my sister and her family are coming to visit.

Now it’s bedtime, the kitchen is clean, and the boys–exhausted from inhaling more fresh air than they’ve had in months–are zoned out on my bed watching a movie. As you can see, any one–or all–of them could zonk out at any moment.

I know that the photographers who actually know what they’re doing probably cringe when they see washed-out, badly done photos like this one. Sorry! Though I don’t aspire to be a pro, one of my immediate goals is to learn to take halfway decent pics so that next time I have a day as great as this one I can visually document in a way that does it justice.

For now, my words will have to do, tired as they are. Tired like my eyes, who just aren’t sure this contact lens idea was the best one I’ve had.