A big little day

Today seemed like a rather normal day, but when I started writing about it in my journal tonight, I noticed that a fair few big things happened on this normal little day.

Amber is getting really good at sitting up really fast. She likes to grab everything in sight, especially Rose’s hair. Point for Amber!

This morning we walked Jay to school and then continued on to the post office to drop off my iPad (we sold it on ebay last night). Jeff had printed off a pre-paid shipping label, so all I had to do was hand the box to the nice postal lady. I did that and was about to cross the parking lot with the stroller when she came running out after me, telling me that the box was heavier than we had estimated and I needed to pay for the difference. I didn't have my wallet on me, so I said I'd have to take it home and come back later. Then a nice man who had arrived just as I was going back inside offered to pay for it! He paid $3.55 and handed me the receipt. It was so nice!! What a kind stranger. Point for humanity!

This afternoon, while Rose was watching Frozen and Amber was sleeping, I had an entire hour to myself. I spent it in the kitchen, cooking. I wanted to get dinner all ready so we could have an easy quick meal after soccer tonight. So I made sausage and white beans, mixed up the cornbread, and even made blondies for dessert. Everyone was still quiet after that so I whipped up a quick batch of granola and put it in the oven. Of course I sat down to feed Amber and forgot to stir it in time so it burned, but STILL. Point for kitchen productivity!

[soccer ended up being canceled tonight--point for tired parents!]

This afternoon, I realized that I was not in excessive lactation-gland-pain for the first time in a week, so I took advantage of it and went on a run. Predictably, during my run, a small dog ran across the street and started chasing and yipping at me. As usual, I waved my arm, shouted, and threw a sideways kick at the beast (I missed). It actually halted and turned away, dashing back across the street. A pickup truck was driving down the street at that exact moment, and it HIT the dog right next to me! I was barely five feet away! I heard the sickening crunch of dog meeting bumper! I yelled in shock! The dog died right there in the road. And I discovered that no matter how many times I have wished for a car to come and do that exact thing to the various ferocious canines that have chased me in this town, I never truly wanted them to actually die. I felt so bad for the poor little pooch--the same one that seconds earlier had been snarling at my ankles! Whew, I have a heart after all. I'll still kick stupid yappy dogs, but it was nice to discover that deep down, I'm not as heartless as I sometimes feel. Point for my humanity!

This evening while the kids were cleaning up (or supposed to be cleaning up) the blocks, I sat in Amber's room feeding her a bottle and enjoying a Gail Carson Levine book (fluffy kid fairy tales). Amber finished her bottle and fell asleep on my shoulder, and I kept reading. I heard Jeff bogging down trying to motivate the kids to clean up, but I just couldn't relinquish the peaceful, perfect motherly moment with my soft, warm sleeping baby. Add a good book to that and I was even more reluctant to leave my sanctuary. So I sat there,  shamelessly reading and rocking my sleeping baby while Jeff conducted a particularly reluctant cleanup time. And when I told my good husband about that beautiful moment, he agreed that I made the right call. Point for Jeff!

A Good Thing happened last night too: we had one of our most fun family home evenings in a while. We decided to do a family game night on the Wii, so after dinner and cleanup time, we went down to the basement and played two Nintendoland games: one was a game of tag and the other was a silly ghost attack game. It was hilarious and fun to play those goofy games all together as a family! We especially liked when one person was the invisible ghost, hunting down the other players in a dark maze. Every time someone got grabbed by the ghost, twangy organ music played we all squealed and laughed. It was an unexpected golden family night that I want to remember. Normally I avoid playing video games because I have no patience for them, but last night was actually fun. Point for FHE!

Two exciting Brown Family group texts came buzzing in tonight too (I love Brown Family group texts): 

My sister Mel has officially submitted her mission papers! Yay!! YAY! Point for Mel!

My brother Brad has officially and finally been accepted to med school! Yay yay! Point for Brad and Dani! They get to stay in their house in Arizona for the next 4 years too. Even better! YAY!