We got ice cream tonight.

Big deal, right? I mean–I can’t even tell you how many times we’ve driven down off the ridge and into town to get some ice cream at our local shop. I’ve joked with the kids that once we moved up here, neither waistline nor wallet would tolerate daily ice cream runs, but something tells me we’ll keep up a steady pace for the next few days at least.

Tonight, we all needed a treat. Or more accurately, I suppose: after a couple of days of settling in, I’ve begun to remember that just being up here is a treat.

Before we drove into town, we made a short pit stop to visit our neighbors, the cattle. My middle child has a thing for cows. In fact, he actually lobbied for us to get a cow once we moved up here. When I asked him why he wanted a cow, he responded:

One: Best pet ever
Two: All the milk you’ll ever need
Three: All the cheese you’ll ever need

And so on. I was not convinced, though I was very amused.

At the ice cream shop, my kids got their usual: Blue Moon. I helped myself to a scoop of coffee ice cream with chocolate chips. Then we walked across the way to the park and sat near the gazebo that the kids’ great-grandfather built. And after that, the two of them went off to the swings, and I watched them play.

Yes, the whole evening was a treat. But of course, it was only a treat because I treated it that way.

Earlier in the evening, while I was making dinner and setting up the new modem (so much for monotasking), I was fussing at the kids for doing the exact same thing: being kids. So what was different about after dinner? Just my attitude.

It’s not as though I expect to be able to live my life in a state of suspended bliss, but with practice, I am hoping to be able to capture more moments like tonight.

And the truth is: those moments are happening all the time. For example: should I be writing this blog entry right now, or sitting with my kids watching a movie?

Time to click the Publish button!