While I enjoy my kids at the ages they're at and all the things they're doing, I must admit that I was kind of wistful this morning.  When I was taking my walk, I saw a mother and her pre-schooler sitting on a blanket in their front yard reading books. 

Our schedule isn't normally that calm, and, although I don't really want to go back to the preschooler days...

...okay, maybe for an afternoon...

...it just looked so peaceful, close, and focused.  I haven't felt either peaceful or focused this week.  There are too many things going on and too many irons in the fire.  Younger son and I had a chance to go along with dear husband next week, and I decided not to because I feel stretched and stressed enough as it is. 

Then, late this afternoon, daughter and younger son decided to go over to the neighborhood park for a bit and throw a Frisbee.  They asked me to come along, and I did.  Forty-five minutes, including the walk there and back, throwing the frisbee as the late afternoon sun slanted the shadows across the grass, enjoying watching daughter and younger son's interactions and enthusiasm, and watching as another family, with their pre-schooler, tried to fly a kite with very little wind, all made me feel totally different.