That's why they call it Fall Break

My son sits on the edge of the bed in his former bedroom reading a story to his three-year-old niece, and I know it's going well because I can hear the giggles. My four-month-old grandson is sound asleep after a nice long walk in the crisp fall air, and my daughter and son-in-law have gone out for a little alone time without the kids in tow. My husband is enjoying a second cup of coffee and I'm thinking I just might get up and fix another pot of tea.
 
This wasn't how I'd planned to spend my fall break, but it'll do. Hurricane Matthew interfered with our planned road trip south for a visit with the extended family, so we stayed home and the grandkids came to us. In the living room a herd of stuffed animals gathers around plastic feed troughs, predators and prey sitting shoulder to shoulder without any fear, while a baby doll wears my binoculars around her neck. Grampa made raisin bread, perfect for a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich, which little E eats through a process of deconstruction: jelly first, peanut butter second, bread last.

Last night the young folks taught me how to play Exploding Kittens and this morning we all went out for a walk through the woods, although some of us also did more running and hopping than walking. We saw the neighbor's goats and burros gambolling and a pileated woodpecker making the wood chips fly at the top of a dead tree. Leaves are starting to turn, mostly yellow now with touches of red. If the wind keeps up steadily we'll try the new kite this afternoon, but first it's time for young people to take their naps.

Maybe old people too. Only one set of papers to grade before Wednesday--no reason I can't close my eyes in the middle of the day and take advantage of the break. I just need to find someone to read me a story...