The Best Day

I have been thinking a lot about the words of Taylor Swift's song, "The Best Day" lately. My sister introduced to me to it when Teddy and I were visiting her a few weeks ago and it's so powerful to me. Here are the lyrics...

The Best Day -Taylor Swift

"I'm five years old, it's getting cold, I've got my big coat on
I hear your laugh and look up smiling at you, I run and run
Past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides, look now, the sky is gold
I hug your legs and fall asleep on the way home

I don't know why all the trees change in the fall
But I know you're not scared of anything at all
Don't know if Snow White's house is near or far away
But I know I had the best day with you today


I'm thirteen now and don't know how my friends could be so mean
I come home crying and you hold me tight and grab the keys
And we drive and drive until we found a town far enough away
And we talk and window shop 'til I've forgotten all their names

I don't know who I'm gonna talk to now at school
But I know I'm laughing on the car ride home with you
Don't know how long it's gonna take to feel okay
But I know I had the best day with you today

I have an excellent father, his strength is making me stronger
God smiles on my little brother, inside and out, he's better than I am
I grew up in a pretty house and I had space to run
And I had the best days with you

There is a video I found from back when I was three
You set up a paint set in the kitchen and you're talking to me
It's the age of princesses and pirate ships and the seven dwarfs
And Daddy's smart and you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world

And now I know why the all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes
For staying back and watching me shine
And I didn't know if you knew, so I'm takin' this chance to say
That I had the best day with you today"

This song has really stuck with me lately and really anytime I listen to the song I tear up and sometimes just cry. It just reminds me that kids don't even care what you are doing, just as long as you are together, they can have the best day. I think really this goes for everyone. It's so easy to let all of life's stresses and being busy get in the way. Family days are the days that count and really the days all of us will remember most. I can almost guarantee I won't be thinking about the week that I was swamped with work, ten years from now, but I will remember these great days where everyone was happy and the day was just the best. Sunday (and really this whole past weekend for that matter) was the best day and it reminded me of the song. We don't get out a ton as a family for long periods of time, due to the prez's nap schedules. She's really not great at on the go napping (meaning she refuses to sleep), so I try to steer clear of things that will interfere with nap time...otherwise we all pay the price later that day and have decided it's just not worth it. As she gets closer to one, I know we will drop the morning nap at some point in the next few months, so I'm not too stressed over it. Just a stage of life. :) 

This past Sunday, one of my best friends' daughter was baptized. The service began right when nap time would normally begin, but this is something we just could not miss. We are family to each other. So, we headed out early Sunday morning, dressed up (which was so fun...so rare we all get dressed up these days) and ready for a long day away from home. It was just such a great day. We had a couple minor hiccups along the way, but nothing awful. I had to pick Reagan up from the church nursery because her "stranger danger" was in full force, but I actually figured that would happen. Also, she only slept maybe 40 minutes the whole day. But, she still so happy and content that we didn't even notice. She enjoyed the day as much as we all did. 

Teddy had an amazing time. Being the only kid under 7 that day, besides the babies, I still knew he'd have a great time. He played and played with good friends of ours', who really enjoyed their time with him. It is such a special thing to see lifelong friends enjoy your kids and your kids enjoy them. He is such a happy kid and was totally in his element. He actually didn't want to go home and asked a few times this week, if he could go back. :) He loves when we are all together as a family and so do I.  The hubs and I were laying in bed that night looked at each other and both said "it was such a good day!" It was a day I will always remember and it's not like it was much different than any other day (we have lots of good days like this), but it just sticks out in my mind and I love that I'll always have it as a precious memory. :)

Happy Wednesday friends!

xoxo,

Ashley