Friday night I went to Boka with some gal pals (M,LA&T!) and it was superb. A much needed evening of girl gabbing and scrumptious eats. I had the cauliflower risotto and a beet salad. Tay and I shared the molten chocolate lava cake with espresso chip ice cream.(pretend I said that last part in the breathy scandalous way it deserves) I can't remember the name of the Syrah I chose but we got along splendidly as well.

Saturday afternoon, Taylor and Dave picked up the munchkins and kept them until Sunday evening. I was napping with earplugs and an eyemask when they came, dead to the world, and Peter was shocked I didn't hear anything as apparently it was Mardi Gras when the four of them were reunited downstairs. My children LOVE Taylor and Dave, or as Finn calls him "David".

Peter and I spent Saturday night leisurely grabbing a bite at a pub and then seeing The Namesake, which was beautiful. I loved the book and the movie did not disappoint. Mira Nair said in an interview "Calcutta is such an interesting place because it is a place where culture is oxygen." Beautifully said. I am in love with Indian culture. The richness of color, history and tradition. The mystery of it all I just find intoxicating. I had a problem with Kal Penn playing Gogol. I just found him to be kind of a crappy actor with pretty much the same look on his face the whole time and awkward body language.  Tabu, the actress who plays Ashima, Gogol's mother, was astonishing. Not only is she breathtakingly beautiful but she's a phenomenal actress. There were lots of worthy previews before the movie as well, which is always one of my favorite parts. Laura Linney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are in a movie called The Savages, which looks really interesting.

Sunday we really didn't do much. We had a few errands to run but mostly we just hung out. There is something amazingly luxurious about being in your own home sans noisemakers children. It was just the break we needed.

We picked the little people up at Taylor's Sunday evening and stayed for dinner. It was fabulous. Tay made everything and her mom Lauri was there as well with her beau, Charlie. Lovely people. No surprise. After we left I told Peter it felt like being with family. Comfortable, loving, fun, funny, and busy. The "busy" part being Finn who ran around the entire time tormenting the cats (Mr. Darcy and Will) by barking at them. Ferociously. Hadley spent the majority of the time playing with Taylor and Morgan's American Girl dolls from childhood. (Note to self: good present idea)

This morning in between bites of Rice Krispies, my darling girl asked me "Mama, is this a dream?"

"Is what a dream, sweetheart?"

"My life."

Holy crap I think. But I say "What do you think honey?"

"I think it is."

Beat.

"Are hippos mean?"

Ah, such is the beautiful randomness of my 5 year old's brain. Later, we toasted each other with chocolate covered ants Tay got for her. Tasted mostly like white chocolate.

I'm thinking of you tonight, Dad. I'd like to think wherever you are that there is internet access. It makes me feel better. Love you.