Things that made me laugh today

Today there were several things that happened that I wanted to be sure to write down as the girls are really getting to a fun age where they are playing with each other without my involvement.  Most of these events that occur seem to happen as I am preparing dinner and the kids know that I am "off limits."  Tonight they both disappeared upstairs for quite some time.  In our house it is a general rule that if you do not hear noise after 1 minute someone is into something they shouldn't be.  Well, from the kitchen I didn't hear anything, so I very quietly climbed upstairs only to see Emma and Rebecca crammed into Rebecca's rocking chair reading books together.  It is such a wonderful breath of fresh air to hear things like, "Rebecca, can you show me where the frog is?" rather than "Stop touching my stuff and leave me alone!"  A very tender moment between the kids.

The kids found themselves in the basement about 5 minutes before dinner was ready.  I called down to them to have them come up.  Emma came up right away.  Rebecca, not so much.  I go downstairs only after Emma says, "Mommy, if you want Rebecca to come up she isn't going to hear you.  She is in the shower."  At which point I promptly fly down to the basement only to fine Rebecca in the shower sitting on the floor with two bars of soap that she had broken into several pieces.  I just said, "Well, I guess we don't have to wash your hands before dinner."  I told her dinner was on the table and she said, "OK Mommy."  She dropped the soap and marched right upstairs.

 After dinner Emma had brought one of Rebecca's books down that has a bunch of kid's bible songs in it.  I must sing this book at least two times a day.  Well, they both started singing the songs and I was able to get to the video camera before they realized what I had done.  It was great to see them singing together and now we have it captured on film.  Most of the time when I turn the camera on they stop (they come by not liking performance on demand honestly).

We typically put Rebecca to bed first and tonight was no different.  Brian had practice, so I was on my own.  I read Emma her books and then we got into a long conversation about the snow storm coming tomorrow and whether we would be able to build a snowman.  She wants nothing more than to put a magic hat on top of Frosty and have him come to life.  I told her tonight that after we build the snowman we will just have to ask him if he wants to come to life.  She said, "Really!?!? Is that all it will take?"  I told her she would have to dream about it and tell me what happens in the morning.  She was quite excited to turn out the lights and get to dreaming.

So, those are just a few moments throughout today that, despite the cold, dreary, dark weather when we are all feeling pent up and claustrophobic that made me feel so happy and proud of my kids.  These are the moments that remind me why I am home with them.  How quickly these times will pass.  As I am seeing the girls really turning into their own little personalities we are all learning how to deal with the ups and downs of those personalities.  We are making tremendous progress with being a team.  I never realized how difficult parenting would be until I became one.  It is truly the most exhausting thing because EVERYTHING is a "teaching moment" and one has to constantly be looking for those opportunities to teach your kids.  It is these little funny things that the kids do throughout the day that I believe God is saying, "You're doing great!  Keep up the good work!"  Nothing helps me more than a shot in the arm from God.  There is a closing prayer that our priest says each week and the last line is, " And be quiet.  For sometimes God is just a whisper."  I believe that sometimes God is just a child making me laugh.  Thank you God for sending me such a wonderful family!