Do you speak 2 year old?

We have our good friend Jared playing over here today, and the girls are having a hoot and a half. Running around, literally, through the kitchen, dining room, living room and office before starting over in the kitchen, and talking in incredibly loud voices while laughing along the way.

Miss O has just come into the office, where I have fled to keep from a) micro-managing their play and b) the VERY LOUD NOISE (did I mention they are using their OUTDOOR VOICES!!!!). She asks me, "Where'd everyone go? Where'd everyone go? Where'd everyone go? Where'd everyone go?" (she will repeat a phrase over and over and over until you respond to her, a fact that only I seem to be aware of in our family). "Where'd everyone go?"

So I repeat, "Where did everyone go?"

She shrieks in that pained animal tone that has the hint of "NO YOU IDIOT!" and burst into tears. Just then, the three older kids come streaking through the office, making the rounds, and they are wearing their winter wear.

"Oh." I say to my toddler. "Where is your coat?" (ahhhh, the translation: Where is my coat NOT Where'd everyone go?)

"Yes."

Sigh.

Let it be known

I am NOT a fan of winter weather. I don't care for that chill and frost in the air, except for the rare occasion...so rare, in fact, that I can't think of one right off the top of my head. I seriously dread the On with the Coat, Off with the Coat season.

That being said, today we had a cold front move through and snow was in the forecast. As I went to pick up Miss A from school, it was trying to flurry. Miss O and Miss Q and I were sitting in the Red Rocket in the pick up line, enjoying Christmas Carols on the radio when that song, "We Need A Little Christmas," came on the radio. About that time, Miss A and our neighbor were paroled from Kindergarten and got into the van.

Can you guess what happened?

As the song continued, the snow started falling harder. It was actually very very sweet. And while the snow did not last long, it lasted long enough for me to kinda get that, "Oh, I like a little snow mixed with Christmas" feeling. I guess now and then, we all do really need a little Christmas. :)

Now I'm in Trouble

Today Miss Q decided that she would like to be successful at rolling over.

So, she rolled over the first time and burst into tears. I suspect that such a thing would, indeed, be a bit surprising. The next three times were also a bit tearful, but then she could quickly be coaxed into smiles. By the time we thought to get a camera, her sisters were lined up next to her and she became enchanted by all the attention and, feeling quite accomplished with 4 rolls, decided she was done for the evening. Which is fine.

But I'm no novice at this. I know this is just the beginning. Milestones of my last baby. It's bittersweet, my Gentle Reader. Bittersweet.

30 Days of Blessings!

Man oh man, I wanted this to be a fabulous list, but as I got to thinking about it, I realized that the importance of this whole month has been to learn to recognize my blessings. Not just the ZIP-POW-BANG ones, but the small and simple and everyday gifts that are bestowed upon me so abundantly.

So, with that realization, today I am grateful for:

1. Floss. Yes, after Twilight I got a refill on the bucket of buttery goodness and brought it home and tonight we all enjoyed it whilst watching Frosty the Snowman and some sequel that was decidedly not as good, but it was so great being together. Until I ate that one kernel that decided to lodge itself between my back teeth. UGH! How grateful I am for Glide Floss that gets back in those hard to reach places and gets the job done.

2. Cream of Mushroom Soup, Cream of Chicken Soup and Cream of Celery Soup. I'm grateful for these soups because you can do so much with them. For example: If you mix that with some chicken broth in a saucepan on the stove, add a little All Season Salt to it, a little Dried Parsley with a dash of paprika for some color, and then add a couple of cups of leftover turkey, cut into cubes (or thereabouts), you have a great something to pour over noodles or rice or left over stuffing and voila! Dinner, using leftovers. Yay! On the other hand, if you have a picky eater who won't eat anything but chicken nuggets and you know you are out of them but you end up looking through the freezer anyway, sometimes you get a Thanksgiving Miracle and find a bag (a long lost and forgotten bag) that has enough for dinner for your picky eater. And that, right there, Gentle Reader, is a blessing.

3. The Miracle of Forgiveness. I've alluded to this previously, but I have kinda saved Him for the "last" gratitude spot because truly it is only because of Him that I'm allowed to have faith and hope, for myself and for my family. I'm so grateful to and for my Savior, Jesus Christ. His willingness to sacrifice and atone for my sins and then provide a way that I can repent and be forgiven (while learning how to forgive) is what it is all about. All the blessings that have been listed this entire month would be for naught without Him. I think I was reminded of this today during Primary. We are learning some Christmas songs for an upcoming activity and we are working on "He Sent His Son," and as the children sang, once again the meaning and power and truth of it entered my heart.

So the thought I'm ending with tonight are the lyrics to this song.

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?
He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.

How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?
He sent his Son to walk with men on earth that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?
He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us?
What do the scriptures say?
Have faith, have hope, live like his Son,
Help others on their way.

What does he ask?
Live like his Son. ~Sally DeFord

Once again, thank you Jennifer, for challenging me to be aware of the blessings around me and thanks to everyone who participated. I hope you had as much fun as I did. :)