You know how every so often, the planets align in your favor and God smiles down upon you and good fortune is yours and all that? I had one of those days today.
One of those days that is so good that you can't quite believe it, and you are sure you must be a little manic or something, because it just doesn't get that good for you.
A beautiful day that was climatically perfect, high clouds, blue sky, bright sun, and just the perfect temperature. That began with waking up not by an alarm, not because your leg is asleep or your two year old is kicking you/whimpering/standing staring at your head, not because you have to pee (though you do), but because it was time for your body to get up. A night during which you got a four-hour block of time to sleep (which doesn't much happen when you are 37 weeks pregnant), plus a couple others and actually got 8 hours of sleep (which pretty much NEVER happens anymore).
A morning with a cuddle and snuggle from your spouse, happiness and smiles from all kids, and total cooperation on their part, and patience on yours.
We headed out to our favorite weekend morning spot, the railroad station along the tracks nearby, where there is a coffee/sandwich/snack shop where we get muffins, bagels, sandwiches, and drinks, and this week, nobody spilled anything, nobody shrieked or yelled in the station to hear their own echoes, and everybody was polite and kind. Then BigDaddyFish took the kids next door to the train museum, which always has the same stuff as far as the kids are concerned (the big train layout never changes, but the historical exhibits do, but they are too young for that part), while I sat on a bench in the perfect morning sun and just watched the people and the cars and the world go by. I haven't been so relaxed in months - and I got a few contractions out of it, too. And the kids got small treats from the train museum shop, so they were thrilled beyond belief.
Afterwards, we went to a local music shop, because Trout has been going around for the past couple of weeks buzzing her lips like a brass instrument player. She is a bit young yet, but we want to capitalize on any interest that she may have in learning to play an instrument, since that is very much a part of who BigDaddyFish and I are as people (in fact, our family wouldn't be here if not for our instrument playing - more on that another time). BDF wanted her to try out a trumpet. She did, but was too embarassed after making an initial noise to want to continue in the store, so BDF bought her a mouthpiece to practice on. We've been hearing duck noises all day. I also got a package of reeds so I can play my clarinet again - I've missed it.
We then went to the mall, because I needed more compression socks to keep my swelling down to a manageable level. I wanted to just run in and get them, but some other people who were with me needed to use the bathroom and were feeling, I dunno, lucky today or something, so the WHOLE FAMILY WENT IN THE MALL. ON. A. SATURDAY. Usually this is a disaster. But today, we quickly used the facilities, bought my compression socks and a nursing tank top, and then splurged on a bit of chocolate from Godiva - not a lot, one piece per person, but mine was a chocolate dipped strawberry (is there anything better?). I guess because of the chocolate we didn't get much whining when we said no to playing in the play area in the center (it was much much too crowded and plus I hate that place and avoid it at all costs), and only a token asking for XX things from the mall. BDF was feeling so generous today that he took the big kids to the comic book store while Sunny and I went out to the car, once again getting a few moments to relax and listen to music and eat our chocolate and just watch the clouds and the people and the world. The kids got to pick out their comic books and token small toys, as appropriate, and BDF even got a couple of comic books of his own.
BDF had planned on finishing the painting of our bathroom that is currently in pieces in our family room, but we had spent a lot more time at the mall than we had planned, and the kids were still amazingly good and cooperative and loving with each other, so we headed straight to get our pumpkins for the year at Lewis Orchard. This drive takes us through beautiful country roads resplendent with trees in full color, lit by the warm autumn sun. We listened to Dan Zanes, sang along, and just .... sublime. Really.
Please, if you live in Montgomery County or southern Frederick County in Maryland, or the greater DC area if you tend to find yourself around these parts, you have to go to Lewis Orchard. They are at the corner of Peach Tree Road and Rt. 28 in Dickerson, near Poolesville. We have been going there to get our pumpkins and other produce each summer/fall for years, since before we had kids. We have pictures of Trout as a not-quite-1-year-old sitting in the middle of these huge pumpkins that were bigger than her, of Little Man in a similar situation, of all 3 sitting in a hay wagon. The attractions change a bit every year; this year the main focus has been on products, rather than attractions. Last year they had an adorable corn house that the kids could play in, and they had made a little pumpkin patch that the kids could pick their pumpkins from, and they had decorated the place in halloween style. This year, in an effort to compete with some of the larger farms in the area, they had planted new apple trees in the spot where the pumpkin patch had been. Little Man took it kinda hard.
Trout and I were talking to Mrs. Lewis about the coming baby while Mrs. Lewis helped Trout pick out a bag of feed corn - we haven't formally met the Lewis' but I am pretty sure she recognized us as frequent visitors in past years, and we had one of those easy conversations that people who just "click" do, even if they don't know each other very well. Little Man was hiding behind me, and BDF explained that he was disappointed about there being no pumpkin patch this year. Mrs. Lewis immediately engaged him, and took him over to the apple trees, and told him how in two years, when he turns 7, he will be able to come and pick his own apples there. She also told him about crop rotation, and explained how it just worked out that their pumpkin fields were just too far away in too wet an area for it to be practical to take people out to them. Then, seeing that he was still pretty disappointed, she took him in to talk to one of the Mr. Lewis' (but not her husband, I think), and asked if next year they could plant a pumpkin patch closer to the store so that the kids could go out and pick their own. Mr. Lewis said he thought that might be arranged, and then told Little Man that "any pumpkin you want from the bench out front - it's yours, from me, and your sisters can each have one, too."
The bench out front is where they keep the biggest pumpkins.
We went out to pick our pumpkins - Trout picked a nice medium one, and Little Man kept looking at one that was huge, but we were trying to get him to pick one that was more average for the bench. Mrs. Lewis came out, looked at the pumpkin that Little Man had his hand on, and said "NO, a BIGGER one!"
He picked the biggest one on the bench.
We bought small pumpkins, cider, and some stunning mums, and a bag of feed corn that Mrs. Lewis had helped Trout pick out. We are just stunned at the generosity of the Lewis family; we certainly didn't expect that kind of treatment, and thoroughly appreciate the effort that they took to try and make a five-year-old boy feel better about what was really a minor disappointment that he would have gotten over, probably that afternoon, but since he is 5 he has a tendency to feel his emotions quite deeply, and was pretty sad in that moment. They are a small, family run business that has been in Montgomery County for decades, and they are a presence that should be preserved. Please, if you are in the area, or are up for a road trip if you are not, please patronize their business. It's people like that who make the world a better place, and deserve to not be driven out by the big guys.
After that, we took our autumnal gifts home, decorated the front of our house, and just took care of ourselves - we ate, we rested. We got to spend some individual time with each kid, which we don't really get to do as often as we'd like. BigDaddyFish took the big kids for a walk in the woods in the dark, a rare treat, while Sunny and I took a bath together and played for over 45 minutes - another rare treat.
And now, I am tired, but...serene. It has been a long time since we had a day where everything worked well - the kids were good, they were happy, we were patient and good, we were happy. And so I go to bed.
Happy, despite the contractions. You think it would be asking too much for them to get stronger or something?
Yeah, you're probably right.
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