At 8:00 a.m. after actively playing together since 6:30, David pounded playdough for 10 minutes while I lay on the couch.

I told the kids that if they stopped squabbling they could play with the Fisher Price bus and school house (the ones I grew up on) for 10 more minutes, otherwise we were leaving right now. I read Mom's Smith alumni magazine, quite good.

David insisted that my mom change his poopy diaper. Rose played with the etch-a-sketch. I loaded the car, so it wasn't really time off especially because I was exhausted and had a head-ache, but the bags didn't ask me a million questions and need to a story. (I would like to add that Mom was my co-parent for the getting the kids down to the pool, in the pool, out of the pool, bathed, fed, and calmed down post-lunch, but it was not time off since we were both working like crazy.)

Dad and Barb showed up exactly at 3:00 as promised. I barely gave the instructions before heading to my nap. They've been away from the house for two hours. I managed to get some nap, do the next step with the bread, wash the dishes, start tidying, and take more time off to write. Now, I better start getting dinner ready.