good life

Jack and Kate's new after school activity is to run around the backyard encouraging Laney to chase them. Of course, neither of them want Laney to actually catch them (especially Kate, who's still very wary of her). So Laney is on a leash, and I'm on the other end of it. Running.

It's nice, though, to see Kate a little braver these days. "It's my turn, Jack. Laney, chase me! Laney!" And then she starts off running. She's a good runner. She usually makes a beeline for the shed and stands next to the back corner, at which point Laney corners her, Kate gives a little "Eek!" and I drag Laney away. But, they have fun.

Inside this afternoon, I hear Jack yelling for me in the backyard. I go out on the deck. What's up, Jack? "I found a three-leaf clover!!!!!!!" Uh, Jack, the three-leaf are the common ones....it's the four-leaf ones that are rare. I try to tell him gently, but he's clearly disappointed. Next time I'll just say Wow!

At dinner, we're talking about Jack's playdate, and he mentions he had Nilla wafers. I said, Wow, they still make Nilla wafers? I had those when I was a kid...I think my grandmother used to give them to us. She was your GREAT grandmother, Jack. (Kate's mind is kind of blown by all this, incidentally; she has no concept of a great grandmother.)

Jack says, But she died, right? And I say, well yes, she'd be very very old if she were still alive today. But she lived until she was 95 years old.

Jack's eyes get wide, and he says, "95 years old? That's a good life!" You're right, Jack.