a country vacation

last week, steve went to a conference with some coquina people, leaving me and the boys on our own for three days. so, rather than stay here alone, we headed to madison to spend a few days with my parents. of course, they were both working during the days (it was the middle of the week), so the boys and i hung out at their house... watching the sunrise with a cup of coffee in hand, taking long walks to look at the butterflies, relaxing on the front porch (me) and running endlessly around and around the front yard (them), playing in the sprinkler and pretending to be on a pirate ship, taking tractor rides with kaki and papa buddy, blanching peas and receiving sweet potatoes from a neighbor.

it really was about as relaxing a time as one mama with three boys could possibly have. in fact, on our last day there, i found myself thinking, "you know, i could really do this 'living in the country' thing. a chicken coop full of chickens, a vegetable garden, maybe a pig or something..." and then i realized that life in the country is not as simple as that felt. there is laundry doing and dinner cooking and floor mopping the same as there is at home. not to mention the bugs. i really don't do bugs.

so, for now, i think that vacationing in the country will do just fine. and how nice to know that we can go any time we want!