The smiles, laughter, goofiness, and fun I get to have with my family.

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The Storm forced a rescheduled Trick or Treat.  The Cheer-a-leader (how she says it) and Football Player went around the cul-de-sac with Sam and filled up their bags with loot.  It was a freezing night-much different than last year in CA-but they had fun.  I got to run across the street to our nice neighbors with Lily when they got back.  Now each night they can choose one piece of candy.  But only if they run around before Elmo Time.  🙂 

Sometimes we all need reminders.  The kids certainly do.  And sometimes the grown-ups do, too.  I just got a reminder and I am really grateful for it.  I needed it.  Sometimes you get blind or forgetful to your own greatness.  And your goodness.  I know as I continue raising these kids I may be asking them this question a lot.  I hope I can remember to ask it of them without anger, not in anger, but to really hear what they think ads they move through their life.  As their mom, I have to love them through everything but I want them to also feel that whatever they are or where ever they find themselves in their own journey, its okay and they will be okay.

What else today?  I am so thankful to have time with Oliver alone.  Its hard to find one on one time with him now that he is becoming such an interesting and outspoken little fellow.  Not a lot of quiet time to play and hang out without a big sister or little sister around.  Today we spent time doing some art, using a sensory box of rice, and putting away clothes.  Then he got into Sam’s hair paste.  I guess Sam put some in his hair this morning and, well, Ollie wanted to do it himself this afternoon.  He globbed this much into his hair in the one minute I was in the laundry room getting more clothes to fold.  Bath night!!

Just a quick one today:  I am grateful for the ability to choose our leaders-even if the choices aren’t that great.  And specifically, I am grateful that even though there was a huge line to vote this morning at our local high school stadium, kindly people let me and Emmy and Ollie jump to the front of the line so I could get in and out without a lot of wailing (me, not the kids:-).  That’s the way to do politics—less vitriol, more generosity of spirit!

Last week at this time, we were preparing to batten the hatches and ride out the Frankenstorm.  Early in the morning we went to Target for supplies (water and milk) and I spent the day freezing bags to ice and filling up containers with water and checking batteries in the flashlights…oh, and learning to light our fireplace.  I’m so glad I did it since that is probably the reason we didn’t lose power.  Today I am grateful for being safe and sound and staying dry and warm.

About a week and a half ago, Lily met a milestone that every child must.  Alone with scissors, she gave herself a haircut.  Her bangs.  Right in the middle of her forehead.  It was subtle at first when I realized what she had done and now I am used to it so it doesn’t seem too bad but there is a large and very short section of bang that will take some time to grow back in.  Doesn’t bother her at all.

I dont know if it was the time change or what but LittleWee #3 was bundled and sent to bed by around 9.  I didn’t hear from her again until 3AM.  Wha?!?  Yes.  And it was ACTUALLY 4 because my iPad had already “fallen back”.  Does this one belong to me????  Of course, from 3-6 when I just decided to get up I didn’t sleep much but still….

Today, otherwise, was a little trying.  It has  just been LONG.  Right now it is “really” 5:30 but we are still playing and watching tv.  As we have been doing all day.  But this is about gratitude for the next month so…

I am very grateful the for the long stretch of sleep!  Also for the sweetness of my children-how Lily and Ollie both pretend like gymnasts, cake bakers and painters…oh, and today, Ollie was a fire starter (don’t worry-it was just play doh).  I appreciate Lily’s desire to always help or play or cuddle.  Today she gave me a pedicure–the most colorful one I’ve ever had!  

After a good night’s sleep, I am grateful for 7AM {or later} wake up days, kids who request boiled eggs and lots of fruit and vegetables for lunch, and who also understand that there were no desserts during the day since it was Trick or Treating tonight.  Also, I am really thankful for exercise.  I got to take a very, very cold walk today, half with Lily who braved the weather, and I thought about my Baby Boot Camp I used to do in California.  That was probably one of the best things I did for myself as a mom.  It was such a great outlet for stress, it really was a hard workout, it whipped me into shape after Ollie and I met so many nice mommies.

It is such a pleasure to watch the kids grow.  Lily is getting really super at puzzles and to watch her concentrate and focus and figure out where everything belongs~well, it is really interesting and fills me with pride.  Ollie is also getting interested in building things with blocks-especially towers.  I remember at a doctor check with Lily when she was young and I was asked if she was stacking blocks.  {she wasn’t doing it–we weren’t doing it}  Like a crazy first time mom, I went home and we worked on that skill…because I thought it must be important if it was a milestone the doctor asked about…{sigh}.  Emmy is just improving on sleeping.  For which, you guessed it, I am very grateful!

Off to prep for TRICK OR TREAT!!!

Do you know I have three wonderful, high-energy, totally exhausting children?  K.  Thought maybe that wasn’t a well-known fact.

Today I am grateful for COOKIES! and a very helpful 4 year old to mix and measure with me, no poopy diap explosions, kids who love to eat veggies–today it was tomatoes and carrots, cell phones, and my little Princess and Prince who dressed up, danced, twirled and….fell down.  Too much twirling for the little Prince today.

Bonus!  I am also grateful for PBS which helps motivate the clean up and put away each day.  And gives me time to make dinner and do this.

Oh-and this:

That is all.