A robin in the back yard.  Red breast feathers.  Hopping around,  looking for food and spring.  

I'm on a shedule to get all my routine done by 12:00.  At 12:00 the new potential garden person is coming to meet me and talk about my garden dreams.  Andy looks artistic.  A good first step.  He knows plants and trees and landscape design.  But he's listening to me.  We're going to get zoyza grass in the front yard (hopefully it's not too expensive) and make magic in the back yard. 

Then it's pack the car and head for Btown and the littles.  It's an amazing day to travel.  We talk softly about fun stuff.  We share a little.  So relaxing.  At Starbucks,  we get a blueberry muffin for Xavier,  and a chai latte for me.  Luke starts falling asleep.  I'm concerned.  He won't give up the wheel but chewing minty gum helped.

We got to Xavier's school 20 minutes early.  Luke took a nap and I talked to MKate on the phone.  Mostly we talked about enzymes and their power to keep the body healthy.  I'm going to do more research.  

Xavier is growing up.  He's more confident and always handsom.  Very.  He has his mom's grey eyes.  We talked about Pet Society and the space hat he wants for his on line pet,  Rocky.  He said that school went well and that they got to see a movie in class.  

At home,  Papa did homework with X and I tried to get my computor to work.  I couldn't.  We were going to play pet society together;  we need both computors.  Rain called.  She wasn't going to be able to stop for pizza and salads.  She just ordered pizza.  I was glad that I brought dinner with me.  I am staying with my eating program and pizza isn't on it.  When I'm prepared,  it's easy.  I just have to plan ahead.

Rain and R came home with Violetta.  She's confident and beautiful.  But tired.  It's a long day for these kids.  They sat down and ate their pizza.  Both ate a few peas.  X eats his peas with catsup.  R left for a concert and night out with his friends.  We stayed to talk with Rain and help her with the bedtime routine.  

Violetta and I watched some t.v.  Then it was X's turn to play his spiderman video.  Very violent.  He's like me in that he love the on line games.  

The time we are with X before his family comes home is precious.  We bond with him.  It's good for him that we can just play.  I love to watch him play his games.  When V is home,  she likes to sit on the coffee table next to her brother.  Since her first days she has loved her brother.  He could stop her from crying. Now it takes everything she has to pull herself up on the table and sit next to him.  She says , "we're sitting together, "  with so much love and pride.  "We're sitting together."

Luke and I played with V during her bath so that Rain could help X get ready for bed.  There were lots of bubbles in the tub.  V laughed and loved playing with them.  The bubbles were like sparkling stars.  She clapped her little hands in delight and the bubbles sprayed her face and arms.  She laughed as she slapped the water and swam around.  Precious time.  Filled with the magic of childhood.  These kids are so lucky to have Rain and R for their parents.

Luke read X his bedtime story,  and I kept Rain company while she dressed V.  Such a lovely,  peaceful time of family love.  

Knowing that we had work to do at home,  Luke and I were disciplined.  We left B-town at 8:15.  I love the quiet ride home,  surrounded by the deeply quiet darkness of night.  I love night driving.