friday's musings...

things i am loving about this week:

1. oliver jack dressing finley.  he is so sweet as he puts her shoes on and picks out (absurd) clothes for her to wear.  with each item she puts on she looks at him and asks, "do i look pretty?"...to which he replies, "always".  melt my heart...
2. elf on the shelf antics.
3. my weekly bible study.  i love having a chance to get out of the house and spend some time with other women who are in the trenches...whatever their trenches may be (work, family, motherhood) it is refreshing to have a few moments/hours to remember that the world really isn't on my shoulders.
4.  harper saving money and being really excited about a purchase she is making rather than blowing it all on candy...like i do.
5. candy.
6. oliver jack snuggles.  he was always the sweetest little baby and now, as he nears his 4th birthday, i am seeing him finally slow down enough to give me a glimpse of that sweetness that once was.
7. calvary giving harper the last .23 cents that she needed to buy the beloved cupcake maker without any prompting from anyone else...moments of thoughtfulness like this are very rare for him...not an area of strength for most people with asperger's
8. not having as much disposable income...no really...sometimes i hate it...but this week i am loving that i am having to be more creative with gift giving as well as focus on what really matters.  we really have so much...and even though i wish i could give each of my kids everything that they want, i know that they are in homes filled with love and have all of their needs met.  there are many, many children that desperately want what i have provided. 
9. making my children happy with silly christmas activities.
10. calvary being invited to a birthday party for his best friend from kindergarten.  i think it will do his little heart such good to know that he has not been forgotten...
11. harper's friend bria...she is quirky and smart...so much like harper...just a little more of a tomboy.
12. the break from gymnastics and tae kwon do...it has been nice not having to rush from dinner to activity and break up our evenings with kyle.
13. kyle taking it upon himself to create and execute an elf on the shelf antic...he loves watching them laugh.
14. pulling into the garage last night, kyle greeted us at the door.  upon seeing his face finley started screaming, "GET ME OUT OF HERE!".  she just couldn't wait to get out of the seat and into her daddy's arms. 
15. upcoming christmas break.  i am so excited about not having to do lesson plans or worry about quizzes and tests.
16. i thought last night how grateful i am to have a husband that not only supports me staying at home and educating our children but also assists me in any way that he possibly can.  i am not sure it would make sense financially for me to work seeing how i would have to find daycare and after school care for 4 children...but he carries a heavy load.  financially providing for our family is something that i am quite sure he thinks of multiple times a day. 
17. i am so in love with kyle.