Today was a good day.

The boys had no school.

It was raining.
They built forts in the living room.
Team work erected two separate sections for each boy to hide inside and read books.
Now and then they would emerge and sneak a peak inside the others' fort or take turns switching back and forth.
Before scheduled activities over took the day, we read together.

Reading is our most consistently enjoyed past time, I'd say.

Jasper (6 1/2) is learning how to read and doing a great job recognizing words and sounding things out.
At his school children learn to read at a later age.

I disagree with that, but oh well.

He is very, very ready though also feels a bit intimidated or gets frustrated when it doesn't come as easy as he wishes it would.
It's coming right along though and he is going to LOVE reading on his own.
Hayden (3 1/2) wants to read too (big-brother syndrome of course), so he copies Jasper or has me whisper the words in his ear and then takes the credit.

I introduced the classic Magic 8 Ball toy to Jasper, and he found the discovery of it's magical abilities to "tell the future" extraordinary.

The 8 Ball predicts...

*Jasper will be a teacher or a librarian when he grows up

*Hayden will be a veterinarian

*The fastest speed a car will ever go will be 200.

*A baby sister for the boys will not be under the Christmas Tree this year.

*Whether or not I'll publish a book was "unclear" or "could not be revealed" five times throughout the day so we've agreed I'll be deciding factor on that one. My writing potential (or lack thereof) has that 8 Ball stumped!

*Then the 8 Ball said I was "definitely not" having kids and we stuffed it in a cupboard.

Both boys took nice long naps after play dates and soccer class.

A well rested boy has become a rarity and commodity lately.

Hayden is naturally outgrowing naps.

He rests quietly most days. Naps once or twice on a good week.

That certainly eases the transition.

Jasper hates naps but his body desperately needs the extra snooze anytime it can get one in.

Like on a gloomy day when there's no school.

5-6am should not a regular morning wake-up make.

Their poor parents.

I pray I one day have kids (screw you 8 Ball!) that sleep well; I dread that may not be the case.

The day ended with "Bye boys! Gotta go to school!"

And Hayden frowning and tossing up his arms with an accusatory, "But, school is 'coowosed' right now!"

No sun. No school. Simple Logic.

But school there was, and off I went!

Today was a good day.