I  noticed while I was cooking dinner tonight that the house was unusually calm considering all four children were awake.  My Mommy senses went on alert.  Usually when Henry is quiet I find him doing something on the “No No” list (putting his soft frog in the toilet, standing on the dining room table…etc).  I immediately dropped what I was doing to investigate.
This is what I found…
One first grader doing his reading homework:
One 4 year old happily playing pirates:
One third grader typing a story she had composed in her free time:
And one not-quite-two-year-old doing a little writing:
I was filled with happiness watching all of them keeping themselves occupied while Mama cooked.  It’s a rare occasion that I get to cook dinner in peace.  Usually the babe is so desperately starving that he’s at my heels the entire time, or the boys are squabbling, or Ella needs help with homework.  Dinner-prep time is quite often a three-ring circus.  So I snapped a few pictures, and went back to the kitchen and chopped my onions with a huge grin on my face.  I love my children, and their independence & imagination.