In preparation for the weekly weekend blog drought, I wanted to leave something new on View from the Prairie Box. The question is: what to write? Doesn’t matter, says my opinionated internal blogger, just leave something! Everyday I have a ritual of websites to visit, most of which are blogs. And everyday I’m just a little bummed out when a blogger hasn’t posted for days. So this particular post doesn’t have to be interesting or funny, fascinating or poignant… It just has to BE.

Upon digging through my iPhoto stash, I found something to share—so I actually do have something to write about. Sometime last week Sarah brought Calvin over and the kiddos both napped and lunched while us mamas also lunched (the nap would’ve been nice, but no). Livia, in her happiest of positions, stretched out on my legs, was being poked and prodded for the camera: “Smile for Mama, Livia! Come on, babe! Smile for Mama!” No smile. Not for Mama and certainly not for the camera two inches from her face. Someone was smiling, however. Calvin, in all his carrot-faced glory, gave multitudes of golden beams in my direction. Didn’t matter at all that I was asking a different little person for a grin!