While I was sitting here at my computer yesterday, about 7;30, Nate (age 8) got up and came out of his room. I said good morning and asked him what he was doing up so early. He asked me what time it was and said he usually gets up around 6 or 7. I didn't point out that it was only 4:30 in Seattle. He asked, "where's my Dad?" I said, "he's asleep in his room, I think." "Really?" said Nate. "I never wake up before my Dad." It was kind of cool and he was wearing a t-shirt and shorts. I said, "Do you want to get dressed and have something to eat?" He said, "I am dressed. I put on what I'm going to wear the next day the night before." This is a trick my sister Bonney used on her boys, after many mornings trying to tget them dressed.

We had some cereal and milk. Ray was sitting at the table working on his quiz on his computer, with a Snuggie on. It's a blanket with sleeves that he got for Christmas. I got my poncho out and draped it over Nate. He mixed two kinds of cereal together and poured milk over it. He didn't actually eat much of it. Maybe the cereals were a little old. I had my usual, fruit and yogurt (pear), with the last of some homemade raisin toast. Nate had a piece of that. About the time Jim got up and started making coffee for himself, Lidet came downstairs. She is not a morning person, so I did not offer her anything to eat for a few minutes. Eventually, she also had cereal but she wanted it with yogurt. I gave her a small bowl. She also did not eat what she took. No biggie. They were anxious to check for eggs, so we went outside pretty soon, but no eggs yet. We let the chickens out and Nate followed them around for a while. Lidet wanted to see Matilda (the tractor), and she climbed up and pretended to drive her, with vroom noises. It was a beautiful morning. My parents came and Captain worked in the garden. Lidet showed some interest, but both kids ended up back in the house, bouncing balls and making noise. Polly got up late; she hadn't slept well. During lunch, they decided to take the kids somewhere, just to go somewhere. Ray had gone to work about 10. Captain and Vanessa left too.

I enjoyed the quiet and did a little tidying. About 4, Polly and family returned; they had walked around downtown and then gone to Barnes & Noble. My parents arrived a little later and then Ray. I took the casserole out of the fridge and went out and cut some veggies: asparagus, bok choy, spinach. Jim decided to head to the grocery store to get some beer for himself, and I thought I should get some things too. The others started having drink and snack (light, so the kids wouldn't eat too much junk). We came back about an hour later, with some crackers and cheese, as well as a few other items. Polly washed all the veggies and I prepared them, one after the other, in the same pot. Well, not really, because I sauteed the bok choy with soy sauce, but steamed the asparagus and then the spinach. People chose the ones they wanted to taste--not really enough of any, but pretty satisfying nonetheless. On a sad note, the Captain reported I had left the garden open and the chickens out and they had completely destroyed one of the tomatoes. We do have 21 planted, so it may not be a problem, but I will need to be careful. Usually, I don't let them in the garden if I am not right there.

The casserole was very popular. I learned that Nate and Lidet really like to watch Wheel of Fortune, so excused myself to watch with them. Grampa joined us halfway through and then we watched Jeopardy (while others cleaned up, I assume). I was pretty tired by then and started upstairs. "Lidet," I said. "Will you read me a story and tuck me in?" She liked that a lot. Polly was concerned about finding a book she could read to me. I thought something she could tell me would be great. But no, she read "Grandma and Me" with a little help from me. It was lovely. I wanted to go right to sleep, but after a bit (while she was getting read to and tucked in, I presume), I tiptoed downstairs and had some pudding cake and ice cream. Ray watched an episode of Wheel of Fortune, feeling deprived. And then we went up to bed.