Recently a friend asked me how my day was going. That's a loaded question for any mom, especially one who is with her children all day.

I could have told her "Oh, the boys rallied together to drizzle shampoo on the carpet and then Ethan hit Gavin with a flashlight sending Gav into a fit of wails and exaggerated agony. Then the pair of mischief makers poured hundreds of tiny Lego's off the stairs before I could grab the bucket that held them. And then…" I could have gone on for days, but I didn't. After all, few people really want to know how your day is going.

Instead of giving her the play-by-play of "A Day in the Life of," I thought for a moment and simply said "Great. It's been a great day." Honestly it was. Any day you wake up breathing is a good day. Any day your children greet you with a cheerful "Good Morning Mommy" is a good day. Any day you make it from sun up to sun down and haven't lost your cool more than three times is a great day.

With all this in mind I started thinking about all I'm thankful for and all those things that make it a great day. I made a list. I'm a list maker and I make one for everything. Here's my list of Top Five Indications I've Had a Great Day.

1. We make it through breakfast without Pop Tart filling somewhere in the carpet.

2. Gavin and Ethan sleep in…till 6 a.m.

3. Ethan only found one sand bucket of water outside and only had enough ammo to turn one slide into a theme park ride.

4. Nap time. Nap time. Nap time. They both go to see Mr. Sandman at the same time.

5. I've been able to sneak in at least one phone conversation when they weren't looking. (The alternative is a phone call with one on each leg batting at the other boy and asking for chicken nuggets at 9 a.m.)

Even when my day has been less-than great, I wouldn't trade it for anything (except for the occasional trip to the bathroom alone).

Eva Faircloth is a former newspaper editor who resides in Loxley with her husband, Lee, and two sons, Gavin and Ethan. She can be reached at eva@cyrisoft.com.