The soft hum of the baby monitor breaks the morning stillness, followed by tiny footsteps racing toward your room. Before you even open your eyes, the door creaks open, and Peyton's voice chirps excitedly, "Mommy! Daddy! It's morning!"
You groan playfully, squinting one eye open to see his bright face peeking over the edge of the bed. Behind him, Blair toddles in, clutching her stuffed bunny. Nicholas stirs beside you, reaching out to pull Peyton onto the bed with a laugh.
"Good morning, buddy!" he says, ruffling Peyton's messy hair. "And good morning to my little princess," he adds, smiling as Blair climbs onto the bed and curls up in your lap.
"Mooorning," she mumbles sleepily, snuggling close.
Your heart swells at the sight of your family piled together, but the growls of tiny stomachs soon interrupt the moment.
"Alright," you say with a grin, gently nudging everyone up. "Who's ready for breakfast?"
While Nicholas distracts the kids in the living room with a puzzle, you head to the kitchen. You whip up a hearty breakfast: fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and buttery pancakes. You even sneak a few chocolate chips into the batter for a special treat.
Just as you're plating the last pancake, Nicholas walks in carrying Blair, who giggles as he twirls her in the air. Peyton follows close behind, holding onto Nicholas's leg.
"Smells amazing, babe," Nicholas says, kissing your cheek before settling Blair into her booster seat.
Once everyone's seated, the four of you bow your heads, hands clasped.
"Peyton, do you want to say the prayer this morning?" Nicholas asks.
Peyton nods earnestly, his small voice steady as he thanks God for the food, the sunshine, and "Mommy and Daddy and Blair and pancakes."
"Amen," you all say in unison before digging in. The kids chatter between bites, their laughter filling the kitchen. Nicholas catches your eye across the table, and you exchange a smile, both feeling grateful for this little piece of heaven.
After breakfast, it's time to burn off some of that energy. The backyard becomes a wonderland as the four of you dive into a game of tag. Peyton squeals as Nicholas "monster stomps" after him, pretending to be a dinosaur. Meanwhile, you and Blair giggle from the sidelines, her tiny hands gripping yours as she tries to stay hidden behind you.
When Nicholas finally catches Peyton, he hoists him onto his shoulders.
"Gotcha!" Nicholas declares triumphantly, spinning around as Peyton giggles uncontrollably.
"Daddy, you can't catch me!" Blair suddenly exclaims, running off with surprising speed for her tiny legs.
"Oh, is that a challenge?" Nicholas teases, gently setting Peyton down before chasing after Blair. She shrieks with laughter as he scoops her up, spinning her around until she's breathless with giggles.
Afterward, you all collapse on the grass, staring up at the sky as the kids point out shapes in the clouds.
"That one looks like a bunny," Peyton says.
Blair nods seriously. "And that one's a unicorn!"
Nicholas nudges you playfully. "What do you think, babe? Unicorn or bunny?"
"Definitely a bunny-unicorn hybrid," you reply with a laugh.
Once the kids have had their fill of running around, they settle down with some crayons and paper at the kitchen table. Peyton proudly shows off his drawing of a superhero, which he insists is Nicholas.
"See, Daddy? You're flying!" Peyton explains, pointing to the cape he's added.
Nicholas beams. "I love it, buddy. You've got some serious talent."
Blair, meanwhile, is scribbling what she claims is a family portrait. Though it's mostly squiggles, she points to each figure with pride.
"This is Mommy," she says, pointing to a pink blob. "And Daddy, and Peyton, and me!"
"It's perfect, sweetie," you tell her, kissing the top of her head.
As the day winds down, Nicholas takes charge of grilling steaks while you prepare the sides in the kitchen. The kids play with their toys nearby, occasionally running out to check on their dad.
"Daddy, is the fire hot?" Peyton asks curiously, peering up at the grill.
"Very hot," Nicholas says, crouching down to meet Peyton's gaze. "That's why only grown-ups can cook on the grill, okay?"
Peyton nods solemnly, but his curiosity doesn't waver. Nicholas indulges him, explaining the process of grilling as Blair toddles over to join the lesson.
Meanwhile, you're inside whipping up a fresh salad and buttery mashed potatoes, glancing outside every so often to see Nicholas patiently answering the kids' endless questions.
When dinner is finally ready, you all gather on the patio, the table set with your combined efforts.
"Cheers to teamwork!" Nicholas says, raising his glass of lemonade.
"Cheers!" Peyton and Blair echo, giggling as they clink their sippy cups together.
After dinner, the four of you retreat to the living room for a family dance party. Nicholas cues up a playlist of the kids' favorite songs, and soon the room is filled with laughter and silly moves.
Blair twirls in circles, her little princess dress spinning as she declares, "I'm a ballerina!" Peyton attempts to moonwalk, nearly toppling over in the process. Nicholas joins in, showing off some dramatic moves that have everyone in stitches.
When the kids start to tire out, you all settle on the couch for storytime. Nicholas reads their favorite book, his voice animated and full of character as the kids snuggle up between the two of you.
As the last page is turned, Peyton yawns, his head resting on Nicholas's shoulder. Blair is already half-asleep in your arms.
You and Nicholas tuck the kids into their beds, each of you taking a turn to kiss them goodnight. Peyton whispers, "Love you, Mommy. Love you, Daddy," before drifting off.
Blair clings to her bunny, her soft "Night-night" barely audible as her eyes close.
When you and Nicholas finally retreat to your own room, you collapse onto the bed, both exhausted but happy.
Nicholas wraps an arm around you, pulling you close. "Today was perfect," he murmurs.
You nod, resting your head on his chest. "Every day with you and the kids feels like a dream."
As you drift off to sleep, the sound of your family's laughter echoes in your mind, a sweet reminder of the beautiful life you've built together.
