A Perfect Day with a bit of Gratitude

Today was our second day back from our holidays, and our first day with Brian back at work. And what a glorious day it was...
Who can complain about waking up to a blazing blue sky, with temps supposed to get to 25C (which they did)?
Or about the fact that I have a wonderful mate who takes responsibility for earning our income? And that he can hold a job? and show up? and that he seems to be good at it?
Or how about the fact that my children all slept in until 8:45-9am? And woke up in great spirits with lots of hugs? Or the fact that they rarely, if ever fight, instead, they generally play for hours. A fact I was so aware of today (as they systemically demolished the house while they played and got along so wonderfully).
And that they are healthy, a fact that I consider to be no small blessing, and never a guarantee.
Or how about the fact that I woke up this morning? Something we generally take for granted. Not just that
my children are healthy, but that I am too, and able to care for them.
After a leisurely breakfast of cereal, milk, yogurt & strawberries...#1 & #2 sat down to a bit of homeschooling: some manuscript writing and some math. With a minimum of pain and fooling around.
I got to continue puttering in the kitchen....weeding through stuff and making another bag for the thrift store. Today, I said good-bye to our bibs. Yet another part of babyhood that is now behind us.
#3 ended up back in diapers for the duration of our trip.....but has transitioned seamlessly to the "potty" again.....with NO accidents today : )
While the girls played (outside in the pool, in the pool with the barbies, downstairs, in the living room with the magnetic triplets)....I made bread. I thought I was set to make ketchup....but somehow I am completely out of vinegar...? So instead I made a big batch of granola bars. And washed all the dishes.
Everyone got dressed...#1 got in the tub, and washed herself completely, including her hair! How grown up she is at almost 7!
Add in a bit more homeschooling...bit more playing.....a great phone chat with one of my BFF's S.P.....
Another quick phone chat to catch up with Auntie J.....and carrots washed and cut, fridge cleaned out and organized....
I was conscious today that gratitude is an attitude, and one that we can choose to cultivate. I choose so.
I was grateful for a fridge full of food (of which very little was wasted)...and that we have money to go and get more.
For the running water that we drank from, that I used to cook with and to wash with.
For my house, however small and humble.....we have a roof over our heads, and a place to call home. a space that is ours. More than some do.
That while there are still renovations to be done, we have been fortunate to do lots. (being married to an electrician helps)
Then I prepped dinner, vacuumed, mopped, played with the girls, paid the bills and organized the budget.....registered #1 for The Bel Canto Children's Choir. She loves to sing, and I think that it will be a good fit for her interests.  So that would lead me too.....being grateful that I can read and write. That I had (however little) some money in the bank, at least enough to write a cheque for $25!
After debating, I decided to put Kenna down for a quick nap.....a good decision, since she was out in 5 minutes for 1 1/2 hours, and it took me half an hour to wake her up!
Then, I made popsicles. I was grateful for the Internet, and that I had both the time and space to cook, something I love to do, more and more.
I also had a quick chat with my mom, and found out that they thought my dad was having a heart attack a couple of weeks ago-and that it was not. He is a more than likely candidate, so yet another thing to be grateful for (not that he is a candidate for a heart attack, but that he didn't have one).
The girls and I had planned to ride their bikes around the area to some new parks/playgrounds....and today we headed off towards one on (I think) Francois Cres)....a nice one, with a playground appropriate for both older and younger children. #1 has been trying and trying and trying to learn how to ride a 2-wheeler....and she is SO CLOSE! She really only has one obstacle at this point: her attitude.
While being grateful for the fact that my children had bikes, and that we had a safe area to ride them in, I also worked to accept and respect the fact that this her process.....on her schedule, at her pace. Accepting this is sometimes easier said than done. It is so...so...HARD not to want them to "get it" as fast as possible.....
That sound you just heard? That was me letting go. She will master this someday. When she is ready, not me. : )
After we got to the playground and played, we wandered over to Tim's for a bottle of water and a timbit each. I had some disbelieving looks (we only get ONE?!!!!).......but they managed to choke it down ; )
Then a much faster bike ride home, where Brian was home and was waiting....
The Chicken Pad Thai I had prepped was ready a few minutes later, dinner as a family....and more gratitude. That we had food-and the means to buy it and cook it. That I had a husband who loves us, and can't wait to come home to us, that he has a job that allows him to come home at night and one the weekends (mostly)....that we got to eat as a family, and share the stories of our day(s). I am truly blessed!
Then a bit of play, jammie's, and everyone tucked into bed. As I paused to reflect on my exceptionally wonderful day, I thought-I there are so many small things to be grateful for and to give thanks for!
Now though, my mate is upstairs, and I need to go and visit with him.