It's Sunday, and as often happens, we are all at my mother and father-in-laws' house. Noah just fell asleep in my father-in-law's big chair. The older kids are watching a movie in the living room. 

David's parents, "Nanny" and "Papaw", have a lovely backyard, with a red and yellow rose arbor, a cobblestone walkway, and a gurgling fountain statue of an old-world maiden with cherubs and flowers all around her. I was so taken by the beauty of the backyard, and the pleasant climate, I roused everyone from the tv sets, and insisted on a game of croquet. Even Kevin, Rebekah's boyfriend, was in on it. David was a brat throughout, poking some of us with his mallot, just as we started to swing at our balls. I took a lot of pictures, wanting to capture the moments that would be gone in an hour. I thoroughly enjoy these warm family times. Perhaps I'm reminded of croquet games from my childhood. I vaguely remember playing, but most of all I remember the home-movie footage of my Aunt Joan, Uncle Bill, and my father playing in our backyard, in the early 1970's.

The kids will be out of school soon. I'm glad. I'm ready for some lazy summer days. We're planning to switch some kids' bedrooms this summer, do some painting, and hopefully just play.