Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Thunder

Project 365 * 4
Day 485


     Thankful for a warm, dry home. Thankful for strong, sturdy walls. Thankful for a splendid evening at home with all my loves. It was a good one. Thankful it's time for bed. Thankful my kids can hear thunder and not get panicked. Thankful I could listen to the storm with my kids tonight and not be fearful. Honestly, for me, it was a miracle.





Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Old Friends. Happy Birthday, Patty! (Part Two)

Project 365 * 4
Day 484

     Two things made my day awesome:

1. Getting to visit with some very good friends of mine. I love visiting with friends. Especially at Starbucks, on a rainy day. Seriously, it makes my heart feel warm and cozy to visit with people that I love and miss. I hate the time and distance between me and all the people I love and care about. I really have to get better about making time to see my favorite people. I'm so incredibly blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.

2. Today was Patty's actual birthday. So, I blew up balloons and hung streamers. I made roast chicken. And roasted sweet potatoes, and potatoes, and carrots. And we had cake and ice cream. And we talked about how much we all love Patty. Honest truth? She is, literally, one of the best people I know. I'm so blessed to have her. She is such an incredible person that I kind of feel bad for all the people in the world who don't know her. They're missing out.

     Thankful for a good day. Thankful for old friends. And coffee on a rainy afternoon. Thankful for Patty. Thankful for a day to celebrate her.



Monday, April 28, 2014

It was a good day to hang out in nothing but underwear and watch movies.

Project 365 * 4
Day 483

     It was a very nice, cozy day. I had an errand to run in the morning, so Patty watched my kids for me. Then I watched Casey and Sophia for Patty while she ran her errand. But that was it. Apart from those two errands, the entirety of this cozy, rainy day was spent inside. Watching movies and cuddling under blankets. Addy took her clothes off sometime around lunchtime, and spent the rest of the day in her underwear. Which is just fine with me. Some days are like that. Some days are just perfect for hanging out at home in nothing but underwear. In fact, I love days like that. And after the busy, crazy days we've been having, I fully welcomed this rainy, underwear wearing, movie watching, do nothing day.

     Thankful for the rain. I needed it. Thankful for days spent inside being cozy and lazy. Thankful for things like cuddling on the couch. Those kind of things are the best things.



Sunday, April 27, 2014

Happy Birthday, Patty!

Project 365 * 4
Day 482


52 Kind Things

     The other day, I watched Casey and Sophia while Patty and AJ went on a date. They left in a hurry, so they didn't had time to clean up the kitchen or pick up the toys. So, I cleaned up for them. I thought it would be nice for them to come home from their date to a clean kitchen and home. While one part of me thinks that cleaning up for them was just the right thing to do considering how much Patty and AJ do for us, the other part of me thinks it was a kind thing because I really didn't want to do it. Sometimes doing the kind thing isn't really the fun thing. Or the thing you want to be doing. Being kind is about making sacrifices for others.

52 People I Love

     We had Patty's birthday party today. And it was freaking crazy. I mean crazy. The four kids were straight up out of control. They screamed the whole time. They cried the whole time. They pushed each other. They didn't share. They interrupted. Pretty much, they were kids acting like kids, but when you have four little kids acting like kids, it just wears you down. Honestly, it was so loud and confusing, I couldn't even see straight. I couldn't get one sentence out correctly. It was just insane. So insane, I wanted to punch a hole in the wall. Or just jump off the deck screaming, "I can't take it anymore!" Sometimes, I feel like the Grinch. "Oh, the noise, noise, noise, noise!"

     One of our family traditions is to do affirmations for the birthday person. And we did them. But it was hard. Boy, was it hard. We tried as best we could to tell Patty why we loved her between the crying, screaming, yelling, and whining. And because I'm not sure if she heard all of mine, I want to tell her here, just how much I love her. I know I've written about her before in my 52 people I love. But, it's my blog. So there.

     Why do I love Patty? It's hard to put that into 50,000 words or less. She is my person. I go to her when I am happy. Sad. Excited. Scared. She is like my twin. She knows what I'm thinking by just looking at me. I know what she's thinking by just looking at her. She's honest with me. She believes in me. She's truly, the most generous, most giving person I've ever known. She doesn't keep a record of the nice things she does for others. She just does them. Just because that's who she is. She doesn't keep a record of the wrong things people do to her. She forgives them. That's just who she is. She is incredibly beautiful. And talented. And intelligent. If I didn't have her, I honestly don't know where I'd be. I would be lost. I would be lonely. I would have a lot less laughter in my life. The times that I've laughed the absolute hardest in my life, have been with her. I have the kind of laughs with her that you remember forever. I'm so thankful for her. I'm so thankful we get to live our lives together. There isn't one day that goes by that we don't see each other or at least talk four or five times. We depend on each other to get through the day. It's so nice to have a sister to lean on like that. I love her more than words can say. There just aren't words big enough, beautiful enough, or kind enough to say all that she is to me.

     Thankful for a good day. Thankful for the cool breeze. Thankful for the blue sky. Thankful for walks to the playground. Thankful for time to celebrate one of my favorite people, Patty. Thankful for cake and ice cream. Thankful for my family. Thankful for our family days. Even though they're so crazy sometimes, I want to jump off the deck. ;)





Saturday, April 26, 2014

Seven Things

Project 365 * 4
Day 481

     Tonight, I am thankful for:

1. Being able to watch Casey boy at his soccer game this morning. Kid's soccer is hilarious! It was so fun to watch him and cheer for him. I loved it.

2. After Casey's soccer game, we spent a little time on an open field picking flowers, kicking balls, and just enjoying the breezy, beautiful day.

3. Going shopping to pick out Addy's ballet stuff. It brought back memories. I used to be a ballerina, and I really do miss it. I loved it. So glad my girl is excited about starting ballet.

4. Going grocery shopping with my parents. Again, something that brought back memories for me.

5. The best wake-up call ever when Matt came home from work this morning. Ahem.

6. The way Tobin greeted me when I returned from grocery shopping, and the way he cried as hard as he could when I tried to walk out the door again to get more groceries from the car. I couldn't leave. Matt unloaded the car while I held my boy. I love him so much, and I love that he loves me so much.

7. A pitcher of sangria sitting in my fridge right now. Marinating overnight with strawberries, apples, and oranges. Just a little something delicious to go with our dinner tomorrow for Patty's birthday. I'm ready to party! :)

     Thankful for so many things to be thankful about. Thankful for a lovely day. Thankful that good old Dr. Quinn awaits me. I'm ready to unwind.




Friday, April 25, 2014

"I love you more than the beautiful sun."

Project 365 * 4
Day 480

     I was reading books to Adelyn before bed when she started one of her favorite games with me. The, "I love you more than," game. It went a little something like this:

Adelyn: I love you more than the tallest giraffe.
Me: I love you more than cake and ice cream.
Adelyn: I love you more than the beautiful sun.
Me: I love you more than a beautiful sunset.
Adelyn: I love you more than cookies.
Me: I love you more than red leaves in October.
Adelyn: I love you more than the beach.

     I love seeing my children express their love for me. It's the warmest, most cozy love ever. Tobin has been saying, "Ma," and, "Mama," all day and reaching for me. And when I pick him up, he hugs me for a really long time. And anytime I want a kiss from him, I just ask, and he gives me one. He always makes this noise first: mmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Adelyn says, "I love you," a million times a day. Having children to love is such a gift. But being loved back by those children is like something I can't even describe.

     Thankful for children to love. Thankful for children who love me back. Thankful for so many hugs and kisses and declarations of love today. The love that Adelyn and Tobin show me keeps my heart full, warm, and cozy.



Thursday, April 24, 2014

I fell in love with a turkey today.

Project 365 * 4
Day 479

     Tobin and I went to Burnside Farms this morning. It was so lovely. So much beauty to take in. So much good food for the eyes. It was cool and windy and perfect. And all the animals were out enjoying the day as well. Even some baby ducks and chicks. I love baby ducks. They are the cutest. I just want to scoop them up and run away with them. And the flowers? Just amazing.
























I wonder if the ship carrying the tulip bulbs over from Holland was attacked by pirates?! :)


   
     But the highlight for me was the turkey. He was amazing. I could have watched him all day. His feathers were incredible. And his face was so colorful and mesmerizing. His eyes were my favorite, though. And because I was so intrigued with his eyes, I started really looking at the eyes of all the other animals too. And I realized how beautiful each animal really is. Even the pigs. Their eyelashes are so wispy. I think it wasn't just beauty I saw in their eyes, I think it was also innocence. In every sense of the word. And seeing that innocence, seeing how trusting they have to be to let human beings take care of them, it just made me thankful for animals. We can learn so much from watching them.














Sleepy baby duck. 



     Thankful for the best morning with my sweet Tobin boy. Thankful for brilliant flowers. Thankful for the bright blue sky. Thankful for the cool breeze. Thankful for baby ducks. Thankful for the turkey. Thankful for pigs. And their wispy lashes. Thankful for beautiful places. Thankful for sweet animals. And what they have to teach us. Thankful for time spent with my little darling boy. I love going places with him. I always feel so proud walking around with him on my hip. 

Miss Addy B was real excited to represent today!