Finished!

Not sure where to begin with today. Maybe I'll start at the end and work backwards. Or skim over the morning, at any rate - tired grumpy shouty mama, hot and cranky teething baby, fed up grumpy boy. Only Steve wasn't grumpy for a change! Breakfast and dressed was done by lunchtime, lunch was done by midafternoon, Charley was apparently on a one-nap strategy, I had a breakdown about the (perceived by me) inequalities of our respective jobs, hugs were had, and then Ben told us to sit down, because he was going to tell us stories.

I hope he never ever stops being able to tell stories like that.

We had stories about the little boy Jesus, who went to the park with his daddy (God), after they'd been over a bridge. They went to the shops to buy Jesus a car. They went to the cafe. They had the most perfect day, in Ben's eyes - his perfect day. Then we had other stories. But the earnestness in his eyes as he spoke, the way he told these stories to us - it was the best tonic for a weary soul.

Then we set to tidying my Nest. A lot of rubbish was removed, a lot of things taken up to Steve's office. And we found Ben's Red Baby Book which has only been missing for three years!! I've no idea what we've done with all his immunisation notes and stuff. I wonder how hard it would be to get it all filled out properly. But my desk itself is now noticably tidier, and the mound of stuff behind the laptop is not threatening to avalanche any more.

We had dinner, Steve went out to smallgroup, and I tidied up and went to bed with the boys at a hugely respectable time. And to my joy, they both went to sleep, and I was able to leave them in bed!

Amazing. So I finished my painting and fixed as much of Steve's website as I could see needed fixing (it had a bit of a strop before dinner) before Charley stirred. I LOVE it when the boys are settled enough to let me out of bed!

The day ended good.

Today's footnotes go to Ben. He is three years and ten months old today. He is funny and sweet, loud and boisterous, caring, charming and clever. He is rarely able to sit still, except when utterly worn out and watching a film. He tells us that we are the characters from his favourite films. We re-enact his Lego stories, and scenes from Happy Feet. We sing the spy theme from Cars 2 together. He has decided he likes coffee, and is finally starting to eat things other than just cheese sauce and pasta - now we can put sausages, mashed potato and beans back on the list! He wants a spiderman birthday with a nemo cake, he loves automobloks and lego.

He's looking forward to being FOUR years old.

The two-month countdown to his birthday has begun.