The Perfect Day

What would a perfect day in the life of Heather be like, you might ask. Well, my 38th birthday will serve as a great example.

First of all, a rainy day would be preferred. Looks like the heavens are on my side because we wake up to misty rainy dreamy November day.

Also, most importantly, Darin is off work. He takes the girls in the morning and encourages me to sleep as late as I'd like. At 8:30 I roll out of bed and I am greeted in the living room by bright happy smiling faces and Tootie saying "Happy birthday mommy!" I get my coffee, we play and read, and Darin makes us a delicious smoothie for breakfast. I open gifts: new cds by Bonnie Prince Billy and Lucinda Williams, two books and an antique painting of horses running in the surf. Darin watches the girls while I shower, and also, he also cleans the catbox. So far, so good!

It might seem mundane, but children's storytime with the babes is one of my favorite activities. I generally see friends and their cute kids, get to talk to other parents, and the girls have a safe place to run around and have a great time. So on my birthday, storytime is one of my chosen activities. It's especially fun with the dads there as well, so they can learn some of the cute songs and see how much fun our babies have.

Joey's first storytime!

Polly loves all activities where she can put something on her head.

Lucy up front and center, always. She's kind of teacher's pet cause she's so into it, except not really because she's too rambunctious to really be teacher's pet, plus she is way too interested in what all the other kids are doing. It's not fading - full blown extrovert.

Polly really worked on her walking that day. Straight into that teddy bear's loving arms!

And these arms too!

Scout tries to be very patient with her wildling cousins. 

She's more of a lady, the most observant little squirt and loves to try to talk along. She is already saying "mom" and "yeah" among other adorable little snippets.

Back to my perfect day. After the library we check out the thrift store; I get a 70's space-dyed vintage sweater that Darin finds for me, and then we head down to Lotus. There is fog swirling up around Mt. Baker and the river flows through a heavy fertile green land laden with bright autumn leaves. Sprinkling rain turns our hair frizzy, and tree branches shaggy with raindrops, scattering leaves and mistletoe. Puddles and mole-holes for exploring, pebbles and acorns for examining.

We have warm drinks and lunch at the Argonaut. I'm feeling expansive so it's totally okay that Lucy steals all the whipped cream from our hot cocoa.

A walk around Coloma and down to the river's edge just to drink in the refreshing day.

Lucy practices her tree climbing and pretends to be a little squirrel. 

At home I have a crock pot of chili on that's been going since morning. It's almost ready. At the last minute I call a couple friends to come celebrate with us. Rebecca says she'll bring corn bread she is just putting in the oven. Scott and Jorden both bring wine. My mom has made me my favorite: Texas Chocolate Fudge Cake. Pops brings chips and salsa, vanilla ice cream.  Joey and Em come bearing gifts. We have everything we need and our babies stay up late, late, late. I am missing a few loved ones, of course, but I am so perfectly, wondrously happy to be surrounded by this fun and loving group of my beloveds on my special day, with my two sweet babies to help me blow out my many, many candles.

Really, it's the moms we should be celebrating on our birthdays. Scott asks her to tell the story, she tells how I was the only one of her five labors where her water broke. I came quick, she was sick with a terrible cold, and they made her wear a paper mask during and after my birth. My sister was only 13 months old. She was young, confident, happy, strict, protective. She got it done, she did it well; she was on her own a lot, my dad hardly remembers anything about our young days. She remembers it all fondly and vividly.

Oh such a perfect day, I'm glad I spent it with you....