The perfect day starts before anyone is even up and you lie in bed, a little confused about what day it is, worried you may have slept in, until the moment you realize that it's a Monday... A holiday Monday, which means that you won't have to make lunches, there's no dance or piano lessons... And there is no reason to wash your hair because you don't need to be any place where you would want to look good.
As you take a few minutes to revel in all that is already great about this day, you will realize that nobody is up yet and you can have your first coffee in peace. Amazingly the youngest one sleeps in and catches up on the sleep deficit that she runs on perpetually and everyone agrees that French toast is a great idea for breakfast.
After breakfast it's time for a run. As part of the training for the 8km race the family will do in a month there have been training runs three times per week. Just as you approach the time in the run when the 8 year old starts to "literally die", a small turtle is spotted and rescued from imminent death leaving the last 2 km of the run a running commentary of the details of the rescue and a debate over what to name him.
Upon return, the 11 year old will grab his book and sit completely engrossed for hours in the second book of his trilogy, pausing only for snack breaks, which he manages to take care of himself.
The 8 year old will help put the veggies in the garden, making up a song about marigolds and chatting to each plant she transplants.
Nobody will want to go on a boat ride, leaving just adults and dogs to leisurely tour the lake, refreshments in hand. Upon return, children are still happy and both reading!
The night winds down with gin and tonics before dinner, ice cream and brownies after. Kids clean after a day of being filthy, dogs tired, boys watching hockey game, leaving you free to watch Veronica Mars once the girl is in bed.
You will need to wash your hair tomorrow... But until then, it's been the perfect day.