This is the best day ever!

My Amazing Kids (Josh, Kiki, Jess, Miah & Jo)

I'm a believer in miracles~and one happened at our house last night.  We managed to get all five of our kids home!  Under the same roof.  For ALMOST 24 whole hours! But wait...it gets better.  We even got them to cooperate for a few family portraits!  Miracle.  We enjoyed Matt's divine homemade Lasagna, salad, homemade Baguette, wine, and my to-die-for chocolate cake.  We feasted upon the table Jo so creatively decorated with linens, Christmas lights and bowls of fresh-cut flowers.  It was heaven.

So, that was last night.  This morning was just as sweet (in spite of the fact that it began at 4:00 a.m with the knocking of an off-balance, overloaded, wash machine full our college son's entire wardrobe)!

When Matt and I made our way to the living room we were greeted by empty pop cans, blankets, and dishes caked with half-eaten who-knows-what. One by one the 'kids' made their way from their beds and joined the living.  Yep.  I miss this.  The chaos. The competition.  The struggle to get a word in edgewise.  The house was abuzz and I was content.

I sipped coffee with Matt and Jess (who managed to sneak away from her new husband for a night) while our oldest son, Josh (22) made breakfast (he makes killer eggs).  Jeremiah was in the shower, and Jo and Kiki were still working on opening their eyes!

Just as I was settling into our humming house, the older 'kids' began to stir.  Josh had to work.  Miah was eager to get back to his friends, and Jess was anxious to make her way home to Laramie, Wy.  The bliss was ending...and much, much too soon.  In a few short hours it was just the four of us again.  Jo and Kiki decided to play the Wii.  Matt and I went on a three mile walk in the beautiful sunshine.

The house is relatively quiet again.  I will miss the kids.  It is so different being the parent of adult 'children'.  It's hard, but kinda nice too.  I know Josh is successfully navigating his way in this big, tough world.  Jess is happily married and looking forward to Grad school.  Miah is loving college life.  And the girls...they are doing a great job being 16.  Matt and I are so happy and learning to adjust to our not-empty but oh-so-close nest.

Life is good.  All is right in the world (at least our little corner of it).  Today was the best day ever!

(Sitting on the front porch with Matty, sipping Robert Mondavi Cabernet, 2007)

~Cab Lover