Well, I’ve got a couple here today (I feel like I could keep this daily gratitude going forever, isn’t that cool?  In the midst of it all, there is always something to be thankful for!)

So, let that be the first:  I am thankful for always, always have things to be thankful for!

I am grateful for the energy to clean up and that my children are learning to do the same; boy, that sure helps!

I am so thankful for the crazy that 3 kids 4 and under inspire.  This is the scene I stumbled upon while I cleaned up the kitchen and talked to Gramma Lissa this morning.  He was also a poopy little guy.  Great combo of a mess!  He told me he was washing his hands.

I remain grateful for each day I get to spend with my kids.  Today was sunny and mild and we got to run around with our neighbors, Danny, Olivia, and Seth after Ollie got up from his nap.  I’m glad I took a chance and we ran after them as we saw them walking up the road.  Good payoff.  Both my mobile kids got to run, run, run around.  This was especially helpful since Lillian ate TWO full size Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups while hiding out in the TV room. {sigh}

Oh My Heavens, these kids are awesome!  Lily kept hugging and playing with Oliver the whole afternoon.  It didn’t matter that he cried a little bit. (Buck up, Boy!  Its love!)  After Lily constructed a tent for Ollie to sleep in, Little Emmy was left with nothing but a toy baby blanket to sleep with … they are so lucky to have each other and I am lucky to have them!!  I am grateful that they will grow up learning to navigate life with one another and that I have 2 wonderful blood bros and 2 by marriage bros.  Siblings drive you bonkers but they are so wonderful to navigate life with!

I am thankful today for the ability to learn from mistakes. When I performed my gym routine to Eye of the Tiger in 4th grade, I didn’t understand grace or forgiveness or learning from failure. I’m pretty sure each of us, kids and adults alike would agree that although it feels awful it makes us stronger and braver in the end. And that you can nearly always get a do-over, even if an eventual criminal holds the mats together for you. And crying is just fine.

I know you did not know this.  I danced a lot when I was younger and still I wasn’t aware.  But there is a new way to say Thank You.  Lily taught me how yesterday as we were dancing after school.  It goes like this:

“This is how you say thank you in ballet”  {lift leg to the side and hold it up in the air}

“And this is how you say I love my coach”  {bend knee, cross over other leg, hug to your chest}

“Do you want to try, Momma?”

I’m thankful that she is thankful!

I love technology but I hate it too. But right now, after a tired (but great) day, one where I kind of wake up tired and by the end, I’m nearly too tired to go one more minute, I am loving my tap-tap. All I need in one place except a nice hot mug of chai tea and a few dark chocolate chips. Wha?? Mmm, I think I do have the energy to go down and have that after I finish typing my gratitude for the day. So, technology. I love that my walk today could be set to mellow Celtic music, that I could read an article in the Reading paper online about Brent, and that I could just check in on Twitter and find a recipe for a homemade potpourri you can simmer on the stove for the holidays. Now, I’m grateful that my day is nearly over but that technology will allow me to watch “Call The Midwife” on PBS and read a little before I sleep. Until tomorrow, World Wide Web!

I’d like to give a shout out to our favorite Gramma in OH!  How wonderful is it to be in driving distance to all grandparents?  I absolutely love that my kids will benefit from close relationships to them.  It is lifesaving to have Lissa a two hour drive away to visit and play and help me out in innumerable ways.  Here’s why:

1.  She is awesome, all-around.

2.  She brings food when she comes.

3.  She is up for any type of play:  outside, inside, upside-down.

4.  She stayed with the kids, solo, while I was in the hospital with Emmy.  That’s amazing!

5.  She is so interesting!

6.  Refer to #1.

Today she arrived and because it is the most most most beautiful day, we were outside for much of the time.  Lily and I led her to the stream (Emmy was along, too), then she and Lily did puzzles and now everyone is jumping in leaves.  We all love you, Lissa! xoxo

Lily crept into bed around 5:45 and whispered in my ear, “Are you excited for the Tea Party today?” and although I may not have been too excited at that time, I was excited to take both girls to the event later in the morning.  Preparations began in earnest by 9:30.  Outfits, shoes, jewelry, makeup and hair…then some pictures and Emmy held up the production by needing a nearly complete outfit change right as we were leaving.  It was so cute, the whole thing.   The people at the Pine Community Center have impressed me at each special event we’ve participated in.  We were greeted by some grown up princesses and led to our table.  After that we were free to choose an activity to work on; we started with jewelry making and then moved  over to cookie decorating…a first course, I guess, for Royal Teas. A couple of cute rotating activities later, with newly painted nails and a delightful crown, it was time for lunch.  It was a very fun way to spend a Saturday, just girls.

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Because the weather was so cooperative, after Ollie woke up everyone went to the playground.  It was super fun.  Running around, getting away from the Dinosaur {Sam}, and general energy expenditure.  I couldn’t ask for a better day.  Thankful, that’s me.

I love that we found a house with space to run and the woods to explore. The kids love it, too! Due to the fairly mild weather today and the fact that Lily didn’t have school, we all needed to get out and RUN and bike and play. Emmy cooperated with a long afternoon nap (I think she is really starting to organize her sleep; two long stretches of sleep a day plus lots of cat naps). We played ice cream parlor, Lily introduced me to Michelle and Mookie (where’s Melinda, that’s what I wanna know!), and hide and seek. It was during my seeking Ollie that I happened to brush behind his ear and felt something weird. After further investigation, a blasted bloodsucking tick was discovered. Gross. Totally gross. The first one to be on him for longer than I wanted. I attempted to extricate it but I’m no doctor and the head would not come out. We ended up at “Dada’s hospital” in the ER. My kids are awesome:complimented a couple of times on their behavior. Not what we wanted to do on a nice Friday afternoon but I’m grateful today for fine medical care, that care being convenient, and family-friendly health insurance to use.