Last night, being the safe conscience mother that I am … HA! … I made a ramp for my children (ages almost 2 and almost 5, remember) to ride their bikes over.  Actually, I made it for Sister to ride her bike over and Brother got into the action on his scooter.  She (Sister) had already spent an hour running through the “mommy” sprinkler (an advanced water sprinkler mechanism that involves water, a hose, and the thumb of a mother), riding through the “mommy sprinkler”, riding in circles, in zig-zags, with no feet, with only one hand…. and I was out of answers for the inevitable “What next, Mom?”  It wasn’t an elaborate ramp but it occupied the remaining 20 minutes before bedtime.  After such a good time with the kids last night, I foolishly thought that things were beginning to settle down and that my dream of the simple life was starting to become a reality … and maybe it is … but (you had to know that was coming)…. today the cousins showed up about 40 minutes after I got out of bed.  Notice I did not say after I woke up since I don’t technically consider myself awake until at least an hour after my feet hit the floor in the morning.  So, the cousins came by, there was some sort of problem with the phones, an ordeal getting a carpet cleaner, an issue with the cleaner once he arrived, a few other random problems I was not expecting and a couple of meltdowns (me, not the kids).   It seemed that everyone wanted something and I just did not have it to give.  I took Brother for a ride so he would take a nap and called Will while I was out.   And I remember now yet another reason why I married him.  This afternoon has been every bit as hectic as this morning.  There have been just as many requests, demands and interuptions but I am calm now because my husband listened to me talk about my petty world and let me cry when I needed to and said I was doing a good job.  Thank you, sweetie.