"Waturday"

That's how Justin used to say Saturday, but he has since learned how to pronounce an 's' sound.  I don't want to ever forget how he used to say it, though.  So cute!

Saturdays pass us by much too quickly.  I always think I'll get all these things done and then suddenly it's time to make dinner and I look around wondering what I've accomplished all day.

A typical Saturday involves Darrel or I reluctantly getting out of bed to give a persistent child their breakfast, after we've held them off for as long as possible.  That child is always Grace or Justin, or both.  Even if Spencer is awake then (half of the time he's not), he doesn't want to eat just yet. On the weekdays we're all together at breakfast time, eating the same thing, but on Saturdays we are very relaxed and eat what we want when we're ready.

Cartoons are a must after breakfast.  Justin likes to do whatever the big kids are doing and readily follows them downstairs.  He watches some of the shows, but also plays with his toys. It's fun to have them all get along, which they mostly do.

Once cartoons are over, Darrel gets to watch his "piece d' wood show", as Justin calls it.  Justin likes to watch it, too, and it's very cute to see him and Darrel snuggled up together on a chair watching "This Old House".

Lunch seems to come right after breakfast.   Spencer and Grace have piano lessons after that and then they get to walk from their piano teacher's house to Grandma and Grandpa's to play. This is the best thing about Saturdays.  They get to go to garage sales, go on hikes, see the horses at a nearby barn, or go to a store or the park.  But they have just as much fun playing cards, hitting tennis balls or searching for worms at grandma's house, too.  As soon as Justin is up from his nap, he's looking for his shoes and ready to join the kids to play with his favorite person, "Pa".  Any Saturdays that must be missed for various reasons are a tragedy for us all.

Darrel and I have also been the beneficiaries of my parents' generosity with their Saturday time.  When the kids are gone, I can go to the grocery store or run other errands completely ALONE.  I get almost panicky wondering what's the best use of my time when there are so many options.  Today I chose the grocery store so now we are stocked up for the month.  I even splurged on a few items I don't usually buy since the kids are off for spring break this next week and will be constantly on the prowl for snacks.  They are like bottomless pits these days, and they're not even close to being teenagers yet!  I guess they're stocking up for summer when they can run wild outdoors all day and swim at grandma's house every afternoon.  Ah, summer!

And just like that it's dinner time, bath time, and bed time.  The day is done.  And I look around and think, "I guess I'll catch up on Monday."