If I only knew

Some days are just plain and simple better than others. Lately, I have had a few pretty downer days. But the best part of it all is that I get to enjoy, or try to enjoy my kids. I think I take way too much for granted. So I thought i'd list 50 things I love about my kids. But 50 just wasn't a big enough number......
I just take for granted how lucky I am to have them to teach me what life is really all about.

1. Their smiles
2. Their laughs
3. The fact that they can bring out the best in me.
4. Their innocence
5. Personalities
6. Whit
7. Sense of humour
8. How they smell after a bath
9. Watching them play
10. Watching them experience something for the very first time.
11. Seeing them grow
12. Watching them create their own friendships
13. Being so proud when they accomplish something, large or small
14. Seeing them be proud of themselves
15. Hugs
16. Kisses
17. Snuggles
18. Holding any one of them while they sleep
19. Whenever they say they want Mommy
20. Watching their eyes light up when Big Daddy gets home
21. Sports
22. How they don't care if their clothes don't match
23. How they each have their own quirks
24. When their quirks are something that stems from Big Daddy or myself
25. Hearing them whisper "good morning Mom"
26. I LOVE YOU!!!! No human can ever hear that enough.
27. When they tell me I look pretty or am wearing something nice
28. Listening to them use their manners
29. Watching them enjoy a meal
30. Watching them experiment with new foods
31. Seeing them take risks
32. Photograph's of them
33. Waving at me from the window, in the pool, from across the gym
34. Christmas concerts
35. When they are parting from me in the morning and they wish me a good day.
36. When they help me
37. The simple fact that they ever have the desire to help me
38. When we all have plastic kids cups at supper and small forks becuase one of the set the table.
39. Watching them love one another
40. Watching them read
41. I love that they all love books
42. Family movie night
43. Singing in the van
44. Dancing in the bedroom before bath time
45. Overhearing them singing O Canada
46. That they always cheer for the team thats winning.
47. Their independance
48. Their hair.
49. Toothless grins
50. The sheer terror of losing a tooth
51. But the sweet rewards of the tooth fairy
52. Christmas through their eyes
53. Their hands
54. Their creativeness
55. Sweet baby breath on my face
56. Pattycake
57. Mom...guess what!
58. Birthdays
59. Their talents
60. That they like vegetables

Make me laugh

I honestly wish I could count how many times a day Joseph earnestly in just being himself makes Big Daddy and I burst out in laughter. As these days pass us by quicker than I'd like, I feel like each day they grown up more and more.

Joseph is having a bit of a bad chapped lip issue right now. They are red and raw and bleeding. Thus, I am using some pretty gross blistex to heal them up for him. Joseph is our child who is so loudly unfond of unpleasant smelling things, feels and tastes. As I put on the blistex and it's medicinal smell for the 18th time I tell Joseph how proud I am of him and his patience with it's very disgustingness. He says "I just face the burn!"

Today while we were mulling around downstairs he says:
"Mom"
me: "what"
joseph: "Horse, starts with the letter H, always has..... always will"
me: "I guess you are correct"
joseph: "Well, except when the horse is a Pony"

Joseph then tells me he's hot and going to get a drink because he's "totally hot"
when he comes back down he says
"Mom, I got a drink of water because I am boiling. And now, I am sweating too because while I was upstairs... I did three push-ups"

You got me there son. I love his quirky sense of humour that very few truly understand. My friend Meg, she gets it. She totally gets it.

Open the blinds, shut the toilet.

It is no secret that Big Daddy and I have been house hunting. Not ferociously or aggressively, but we are in the place in our lives where we would like to move, but are not sure if it is a totally feasible option. Thus, we research all the houses that come up for sale in our desired neighborhood. I also online house hunt pretty much daily and research what houses such as ours are going for.

In such a volatile housing market, as Saskatoon is these days. I can attest that house prices for awhile there went up virtually daily. It was insane. It has now settled a bit but it will be very interesting to see what spring brings in 2008.

But a few things I often wonder about when looking at photos of people's homes on the Internet:

1) Why do you leave the toilet open when photographing your bathroom?? Who wants to see that?? Not a big selling feature in my opinion.

2) Clean your freaking house before you take pictures, ugh. Like I want to SEE your window grime in a photo.

3) No, no we do not want to see your kids playing in the living room or your wife on the computer in the den.

4) If photographing the bedroom, choose to pick up the strewn clothing prior to taking the picture. Making the bed, also would be a plus.

5) This one is a gooder if you ask me: "Fully renovated in 1985!!" NOT a selling feature, nor does anyone of sound mind actually want decore from 22 years ago. Also, it isn't exciting, so drop the exclamation marks. For those wondering, it was not a typo. I saw the pictures to prove it.

Can we say "BUSTED!!"

Sometimes as hard as you try your kids do things that.... well... give away the farm so to speak.

Now lets just say that I like to spend some time on the computer. Right. Let's just say.
Addie and I have gotten into a bit of a routine that after breakfast we go downstairs for her to play and I check in on my facebook addiction. It's a well laid out plan that benefits everyone. Addie gets to play with all of the toys and I get to supervise.

I guess because Big Daddy isn't home daily when this goes on he didn't realize how rigid our routine could be. But Addie speechlessly informed him.

This morning after being awoken boy Joseph saying that he elbowed Trent in the face and there was blood. We all got up and were sitting around the kitchen table having breakfast. Thank you Eggo. Oh and for the record, Trent was OK. There was in fact some blood and little bit of a split lip...but nothing major. Have kids, you'll soo realize that if the blood isn't actually squirting out profusely, it isn't 'major'.

After breakfast Big Daddy was cleaning up the dishes and the kids were in the living room playing. I refilled my coffee cup and was standing in the hallway. Miss Addie spotted me and instantly ran to the basement door in anticipation that I would open it and we would head downstairs for our morning rituals.

That in itself tipped off Big Daddy and he asked if that was our routine since she seemed to know it so well. I couldn't hide it any longer could I.

It's just one of those things about parenthood. Your kids can tell you so much without ever speaking a word.