There's a Couch Cushion on My Front Lawn

Click the above link to watch the slide show first -- it'll make more sense as you read along.

There's a couch cushion on my front lawn. I saw it the other evening on my drive home from work. When I questioned Devin on why the living room furniture was out in the front yard, Devin replied that it was for carrying the tiara to the princess. This makes sense to me. This is a reasonable explanation.

So many things in my life make sense. Vacuuming in flip flops, pink cowboy hats, emergency trips to the vet, and a smore made entirely of Reese's peanut butter cups with a marshmallow.

This past memorial day was one of the best day's of my life. We went up to LaValle, Wisconsin. Just the six of us (Buddy the guinea pig did not make the trip).

The packing and unpacking of the van, the flat tire on the way up, the five hour trip made possible by the traffic jam off Illini pilgrims making their weekend treks to Wisconsin was well worth the three days.

Krista and I have a contest every year to pick out the best day of our life. Will it happen this year? If not of our life, will it be the best day of the decade, or a least the year? Here's what the perfect day looks like:

Wake at 7:00 am. This is no average day. The alarm didn't go off at 4:03, Devin didn't wander into our room at 5:30. The whole family slept until 7:30. I woke up to a beautiful mist on the lake water, made a pot of coffee, and did some work on my laptop. Yes, the perfect day, for me at least, includes a little work or computer time. If you don't love what you do for a living, then you have wasted 63% if your life.

The kids wake up, and play by themselves -- no screaming, no yelling. I remember the apple pancake recipe from scratch, and make a breakfast for all. I have some more coffee with Hazelnut cream.

What to do? Any good day starts and ends with a project plan, ala Rachiele style:

[] Into town for worms, fireworks, & fishing license
[] Fishing
[] Horseback Riding (first time for Devin by herself)
[] Boat Ride
[] Give Java a bath in the lake
[] Beach
[] Ribs cooked all day long, served with farm fresh corn
[] Pool
[] Fireworks
[] Smores by the campfire
[] 4 Episodes of 24; Season One

Everything on this list was accomplished. Not necessarily in one day, but as age sets in and the Alzheimer's takes over, I will force all the activities into one day in my mind.

To top it off, there was some unexpected pleasures. Like the family nap that lasted 3+ hours. A big nasty nap.

But the pinnacle was Nolan taking his first few steps while the whole family was watching. I must admit, I shed a tear.

So the next day, reminiscing about my "best day ever" I became fearful that I would have back-to-back best and worst days. Would Devin fall out of a tree while climbing in the woods, or would Ian contract lime diseases while walking through the tall grass? The composite black and white, ying and yang days culminated in an emergency trip to the vet's office, as Java choked on a rib bone stuck across the palette of her mouth, anchored between her rows of teeth on either side.

Krista's voice will forever echo in my head, "I told you not to give her any bones -- I knew this would happen. You never listen to me."

Your right, honey, and now I am forced to hear you day and night in the endless loop in my mind, "I knew this would happen."

In the end, it all makes sense.