rambling

I woke up this morning to Tyler's crying. All he wanted was his blanket, so after giving it to him I foolishly headed back to bed, thinking he would go back to sleep. On my way back I noticed the snow outside, which was a surprise to me, and after seeing all that snow, sleep was not an option. See, snow and I are not friends. And when it shows up unexpectedly like that, it ruins my day. So I lay in bed thinking about what I was going to do with my kids cooped up inside all day, expecting to have a pretty awful day. But do you know what? My day turned out very awesome.

First we had some really fun friends come over for a visit and lunch. As soon as they were out the door Alexis said, "Now we can go out and play in the snow!" Since the sun had broken through by that point we bundled up and headed out.


Alexis LOVES the snow, and when you are around her in the snow, her affection for it is contagious. She was throwing snowballs and making snow angels and building snowmen with grape eyes, and generally loving every minute of it. So I decided since the snow was here, I was already out in it, the sun was actually shining, and Tyler was wearing pink snow boots, I might as well just embrace it. You'll never guess what happened next.

Here's me embracing the snow...hardy har har

I LIKED it--I became friends with the snow. At least for today. I don't expect our friendship to last through the cooler temperatures, but today I enjoyed it. And I only have my kids to thank. Once again they forced me to open up and do something I didn't want to do. And because of it I enjoyed one of the best days I've had with my kids in a while.

Because after that we had a visit from my parents, and that was fun too. Alexis was being very sweet and saying all sorts of grown-up things.

And then we had waffles for dinner.

And then we had Family Home Evening (a few days late...) and read scriptures and colored pictures together.

And then we popped popcorn and ate it in the kitchen, our fingers slimy with butter. And I told Alexis a "scary" story about a boy who ate a popcorn kernel and it popped in his stomach and made his stomach big and popcorn shaped. After which she threw away every kernel she came across.

And then we sat in the living room in the dark, the kids snuggled up together on one end of the couch, while Alexis and Jeremy took turns telling more "scary" stories. In the background a CD of a pianist covering Metallica songs was playing, and I just sat there watching my little family and feeling so blessed. Why someone as imperfect as me ended up with the two most perfect children created and a pretty rockin' husband is something I'll never know or understand. And while my love and gratitude for them all is inexpressible, I will say that another blessing is having days like today that open my eyes and make me realize the good that is in my life. I only wish that I could make every day more like today because it has been the exact definition of heaven on earth.

And then as if it wasn't already wonderful, we ended the evening with a full moon...and I'm not talking about the one outside. More like the one that comes from a really really saggy diaper.