But in the end it feels like I got everything done.

I took coco out on a girly date to the library, she brought her little shopping cart and stuffed frog along so she could push her books around.

When we came home I read the books to her out on the front porch.  Sitting on the steps barefoot, sipping juice, all cuddled up and feeling like life was perfect.  

When Etienne came home from school I found them in the living room with a "limo" all set up.  Eti kept pretending that Coco was driving way too fast.

Painting in a patch of shade in the yard, in messy clothes, and a soft breeze, surrounded by laughter and birds and ideas..we spent the afternoon this way.  Relaxed in each other's company.  When Eti came home from school I tried and tried to get him to talk to me and he wouldn't say more than one or two words.."It was good Mom" was his longest sentence, but then sitting in the grass painting next to me he says "Here are some stories for you" and then he just starts talking.  It does not matter to me so much WHAT he is painting it is that he is connecting with me.

Later at the creek I am so happy to just sit and watch my boys, at almost any moment if they were to look up from their many adventures among the fish and snakes and water..they would see me smiling at them.