I don't know what the big deal is about taking care of kids. I spent an hour and a half with my grandnephews this today, and I didn't have the least problem with them. I did take a three-hour nap this afternoon, but that was probably unrelated.

Tammy asked me to stay with the boys while she went to the doctor this morning. It was my honor and pleasure, although to her the appointment was a disappointment. She didn't get the answers she wanted, but she won't give up. If there's a way to change someone's mind, she'll find it. She's sort of single-minded about things that matter to her. But Aiden still hasn't made his grand entrance. Not just yet.

Anyway, today was easy for me. While she was gone, the boys and I romped around out in their spacious back yard. I didn't have to do any refereeing or make any critical decisions. I hardly had to get out of my chair. I could have done it all day, assuming it never got any harder than that. (The babysitting, that is, not the chair.)

Mostly I just watched as they played on the various climbing structures (and climbed on structures that weren't exactly designed for that purpose). My main job seemed to be making sure D.J. didn't accidentally knock Dakota off the roof of the playhouse (which was only about three feet off the ground). Since that didn't happen, I guess I was successful.

I did kick the soccer ball around with D.J., and I chased Dakota all over the yard and scooped him up on my shoulder when it seemed that was the thing he was expecting me to do. They both had smiles on their faces the whole time. So did I.

However, I did sleep most of the afternoon away. I don't think my brief stint as caregiver had anything to do with it, though. I was just plain worn out. Sometimes I have days like that, and it doesn't matter if I've been chasing kids or sitting at the computer typing eleven versions of the same letter. Sleep is the only remedy, and no matter how I try to avoid it, it catches up with me. Usually I can hold it off until it's not an issue.