Monday

Despite the unlooked-for industriousness, this has been a good day.

It was so balmy that I took a walk, then burned the trash later, then took another walk. Most importantly, the packing snow finally arrived, so all the kids went out to play during naptime.

Cooking was one thing I didn't do today. This weekend I had to use up a whole gallon of milk because it was past the date, and frankly, though the milk passed the taste test, I didn't want to risk waiting till the next morning, only to pour lumpy milk into the pitcher to the tune of whiney groans. In case you didn't notice, that was a long sentence. Here are two short ones to make up.

Returning to the milk... what to do with milk? Make milky things. Rice pudding, chocolate pudding, tapioca. I have sworn not to make anything new for snack until the kids eat it all up, not to mention the leftover apple cobbler and apple coffee cake. Generous dollops of Cool Whip help the medicine go down. So far the various taste factions have something to please them.

Melinda has been teaching herself to knit, enthusiasm overflowing to several others and settling into the quiet and civilized pool of a sewing circle - if three make a circle. Maybe a line on the couch.

In the midst of these peaceful pursuits comes a dark note of dread! Someone . . . perhaps something . . . Jason says he left his computer password-locked, only to later find it in shut-down mode. Sweet, adorable Trevor? I think he's been more attentive in those lap-sitting sessions than we suspected. Derek is reporting similar finds.

Since Martha Stewart isn't here, what's the best way to spread that piney fragrance from your Christmas tree? Use the vacuum cleaner on the fallen needles. Believe me, it works. It works even if you didn't plan it that way.

Speaking of Christmas trees, we should probably take ours down sometime this week, sometime before Daddy and Mommy come back. This last week they came down for an overnight visit, which we all enjoyed very much! Daddy looks stronger, and he smiles more. And Mommy laughs even more than Daddy smiles, if that's possible. Let's just say we all have fun.

But Mommy, we do need you to come home soon. Jason has started singing opera, or something like it.