Henry set the table on the patio that evening with an assortment of placemats and mismatched napkins. I liked it that way…nothing matching…and little seashell napkin rings. The six of us crowded around that table, enjoying the grilled steaks, and shrimp cocktails, and corn on the cob and tomato-basil salad. And then we had rootbeer floats in those fancy soda fountain glasses.
I looked around at one point, and thought what a pretty story it was…the six of us, together, on the patio on Father’s Day. The sunshine was warm. There was a breeze ruffling the leaves in the trees. It was like one of those snapshots in your mind…how you think your life will be but rarely ever is. Peaceful. Happy. Pretty.
The Man and I put the kids in bed that night, and then sat on the front porch with a glass of wine. We watched the fireflies. We listened to the crickets. (We came inside when someone began blasting the crazy indian music.) ((Not that I have anything against crazy indian music, per se, but it doesn’t really go with the crickety-firefly kind of evening we were having.))
We went to bed feeling like the day had been a really good one. A really pretty one.
And then the barf started. (Do you see what I mean when I say it always comes back to the barf?)
It was the two year old this time. (Their aim with the barf is real bad.) ((Actually, they have no aim. It just bursts forth.)) So I cleaned her up, The Man changed her sheets and I rocked with her for a while, then put her back in her bed, where without delay, she barfed. Again.
So I bathed her while The Man changed her sheets again. And I rocked with her again.
We sat there in that rocking chair with the sour smell of barf still lingering in the room. Her soft ringlets fell on my neck as her head rested against my temple. I could feel her breath on my cheek and her tiny little body curl up into mine, just the way she had done when she was an infant. Me and Ella, there in the small hours of the night.
And right then, in the midst of all that ugly barf, I remembered how pretty my life is.
“our lives are made
in these small hours
these little wonders,
these twists & turns of fate
time falls away,
but these small hours,
these small hours still remain” — Rob Thomas
no small thing 
Awww…almost sounds like our dinner we had last night…turned into a beautiful evening, dinner on the patio, kids playing in the pool, me being able to just water my flowers and enjoy reading in my new patio chair while they all played in the pool….minus the barf though. Sorry that was the ending to your day but at least you see the upside to things and I think that’s pretty special. Hope the sweet princess is feeling better today.
such a perfect portrait … of real life. the lovely. and the barf. seriously, love this post and the poem. you do well to appreciate the lovely moments, like a springboard over the barfy times … 😉
Only you can make barf pretty.
Have to agree with the others – you make barf look good 🙂 Hope the kids cooperated this afternoon. Miss you guys at the pool.
It does always come back to the barf with your family, doesn’t it? Just be glad you didn’t have hotdogs…..
Seriously…love your pretty story. That is a beautiful poem. Is that a song?? It sounds familiar to me.
ahh….Rob Thomas…it is a song. Love that song.
Great story! Even the barf… that’s real life, honest real life, no sugar coating. I do hope she’s feeling better though!
Hi, I just discovered your site via your DOH post. Wanted to say I enjoyed (and related to!) this story. Glad you were able to treasure the good and perfect and the smiles in between the barf and the gag reflexes. 🙂
Those sweet moments are always mixed with adventure, aren’t they? I hope she’s feeling better!
BTW, I have a Mom-Monday giveaway going on if you have a minute to stop by~!
You know your a mom when a barfy smelling scene like the one you described reminds you of special moments cuddling with your little one.
Really a great story. And your absolutely right, no small things because all things made to be more interesting and useful to make it big in some other ways. Nice post!