friday's musings...

things i am loving about this week:

1. the kids made all a's on their report cards.  they have worked hard and i am proud of their efforts. 
2. clean teeth for 3 out of 4 children (finley doesn't go yet)..well water and copious amounts of candy were not victorious over their enamel...my mind is at peace...praise the Lord we do not have lots of cavities to pay for...
3. french vanilla k-cups for the keurig...yummy yummy
4. harper's book report.  she is such a writer.  love that about her.
5. running with harper.  i love that we have those few moments to walk and run and just chat by ourselves...they are far too rare.
6. at the park the other day finley was having huge issues with me not holding her and running (how dare i not run with her--i tried it...it wasn't pretty)...calvary and oliver jack were trying to comfort her and as they walked towards me, from about 100 yards away, calvary took off his coat and wrapped it around finley...i almost cried.  it was one of those beautiful, unprompted moments that make me realize that they are okay.  despite my shortcomings, they may turn out just fine.
7. oliver jack did not want to be outdone so later finley was laying on the bench covered up with both of their jackets. 
8. oliver jack reading to finley...he says, "sit right here, baby...do you like this book, baby?" in his most gentle and loving voice.
9. finley eating up all of their attention...she really is going to be a monster.
10. bad days.  no, really.  when i finally get through a day where it seems like all i have done is mediate bickering, fuss about the same messes that i feel like i fuss about all day, fear the laundry pile is soon going to be insurmountable, and trudge through a school day where no one has motivation i have a moment where i realize that this isn't my everyday.  i love that.  it helps me to be grateful for the days that i all too often let pass by without mentioning how remarkable they truly are. 
11. skype.  it is cool to talk to people who are so far away and be able to see their face and their worlds. 
12. meeting new friends. 
13. hearing calvary conspire with kyle about using his money to buy something special for me.  he is really, really stingy with his money.  he doesn't like to all of his money on anything.  gift cards are his own personal purgatory...but he is excited about buying me something.  i don't know what it is...but i am going to love it forever. 
14. calvary made all of us valentines and used his hershey kisses to tape to the back.  for each one of us he drew a picture of him and the person he was giving the valentine doing something special.  it was beautiful.  he doesn't do things like that often and somehow that makes it even more beautiful...
15. finley ate a salad the other night.  we are all still pretty schocked by that.
16. the twice baked mashed potatoes i made last night...they were pretty much heaven. 
17. the old men at wendy's the other day that just oohed and ahhed over my children.  they just kept talking about how beautiful they are and how well behaved...it made us all feel pretty good....although i can assure that no one in wal-mart stopped to express the same sentiment...
18. calvary received a letter in the mail from his friend nash.  it made his day.
19. a sweet friend from church gave us an awesome container of lincoln logs that her son has outgrown...my kids have had hours and hours of fun playing with them already! grateful that someone thought of us and shared with us...
20. getting my hair cut tomorrow!  so excited!