A Year of Gratitude: Day 234

Today I am grateful that I didn't have a worse injury from spilling boiling water down my leg.  I was pouring the pot of tortellini into the strainer in the sink like I usually do, but the water moved funny and hit my arm a little which then caused me to jerk away and pour the water down my leg instead.  Once the initial shock wore off, I went upstairs and ran cold water over it for a minute or two.  You can't even see where it was which is great, but it does still hurt a bit.  But I'm incredibly lucky it wasn't worse.

I am also grateful I didn't let loose a torrent of swear words when this all went down.  (You know how kids are about repeating things, and both kids were right there for the whole show.)  Instead, I let loose a real good, right from the gut scream, which yes, scared the dickens out of Baylor, but it's much better than dropping the f-bomb with the kids in earshot.

Have a wonderful night!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 233

Today I am grateful that I was able to get Baylor calmed down after a major meltdown just before dinner.  We had just finished seeing Monsters University with Mollie, my mom, and my sister, and we were headed over to Rockford to have some pizza at Marinades then walk around and possibly go to Rocky's.  Typically this is the type of evening Baylor lives for, but upon hearing of our plans he burst into angry tears and demanded that we turn the car around and go home.  He didn't want anyone to talk to him, and he tried his best to figure out a way to just get home.  I knew he was likely just tired and hungry, and after we arrived in Rockford and Mom, Christine, and Mollie left the car to order the pizza, I stayed back with Baylor and just talked.  He wanted to explore the front seat area of my mom's car, and I let him after some gentle persuading.  I still couldn't get him out of the car, though.

Then, I thought of something; Baylor loves to be of help to other people (although not when it comes to picking up his own toys ... grrr).  I told him that I had to go to the bathroom and asked him to join me.  And he did.  Completely willingly, I might add.  After that, and a good helping of pizza and a squeezie applesauce, he was his old self again.

Being able to get him calmed down felt good.  It made me feel like I was doing something right, which is a rarity in this job; clear examples like this are so few and far between.  And I'm grateful I got this one to help keep me going and remind me of what kind of mom I want to be.

Have a wonderful night!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 232

Today I am grateful that our country, courtesy of the Supreme Court, made huge strides toward equality with the judgement that the Defense of Marriage Act, which would have put a ban on same-sex marriages, is unconstitutional.  I am so happy for those it affects directly, and I feel better knowing this is the kind of world my children will be raised in.

Have a wonderful night!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 231

Today I am grateful that I made it through the day.  I was bone-crushingly tired for the bulk of it, and I'm just happy I got the things done that needed to get done and managed not to fall asleep for any of it.

And now I'm grateful that I'm going to bed.

Have a wonderful night!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 230

Today I am grateful for my husband, Bryson.  Happy 32nd birthday, honey!  I look forward to spending many more to come with you.  

Have a wonderful night!

Pie courtesy of Lori Maxey.

A Year of Gratitude: Day 229 (one day late)

Today I am grateful that yesterday's trip to Comerica Park for the kids' first Tigers game went so well. 

Yes, it was hot.  Really, really hot ... and really, really sunny.  So much so, in fact, that the kids instantly began sweating when we reached our seats.

No, Baylor does not have a horrible facial sunburn.  He just gets beet red and sweats like nobody's business when he gets hot.

Also, certain parts of the game were a bit loud for the little man.  

But, at nine rows up from the field, our seats were fantastic.

And we were able to get out of the sun for a while to cool down and enjoy some ice cream.  (In Tiger helmet bowls, of course.)

And I even went on the merry-go-round with Mollie and managed not to get even remotely nauseous.  (The Bonine probably helped, as did the intense "spotting" I was attempting a'la ballet class.)

We, of course, kept the kids well-hydrated.

And Mollie picked up on the cues of when to cheer and did so with great enthusiasm.

Bryson taught Baylor how to keep score, and had he not been so flingin' flangin' hot I think he would have really gotten into it.

In the end, the heat wore the kids out and we left the game a bit early, but we had a lot of fun.  I think the kids really enjoyed their first Tiger baseball experience, and we so appreciate my parents including us on this fun excursion!  Thanks for everything, Mom and Dad!

Have a wonderful night!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 228 (two days late)

Today I am grateful that Bryson was riding with me and the kids on our after-dinner trip to my parents' house.  After we arrived and enjoyed a little pie, I was rubbing my eye when I felt my contact fold over.  Frustrated, as it had been bothering me all day long, I took it out only to find a chunk of it had torn off but was still attached, dangling by the smallest of pieces.  I had to throw my contact away and was left to "pirate patch" it the rest of the evening with one hand over my eye to reduce the strain.  Needless to say, driving home would have been dangerous at best, so I'm glad Bryson was there to take over.

And I'm glad that this happened in the first place because now I have the push I need to keep a spare set of glasses in the car in case of emergencies such as this.

Have a wonderful day!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 227

Today I am grateful for my little fashion critics.  I have been ordering and trying on a lot of clothes lately, and when I've asked them they've always given me their honest and interested opinions.  Usually they are hypercritical of what I have on, sometimes unreasonably so, but their hilarious little precocious answers give me a chuckle and remind me not to take things so seriously sometimes.  Even when Mollie, when evaluating a pair of jeans I have on, walks around them then promptly informs me they are too wide (meaning I am too wide, as they are basically skin-tight) I can't help but laugh.  Their little scrunched up, disapproving noses might precede voices of dissent, but they care and are giving me their time and honest opinions and for that I am so grateful.

Have a wonderful day!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 226

Today I am grateful for all the hugs and kisses the kids gave me throughout the day.  I was having a bit of a rough day and needed a little extra love from the little ones.  Plus, and I don't know how this happened, they seemed to throw fewer fits today and be less obstinate.  Thanks for the break, kiddos!  I sure appreciated it.

Have a wonderful day!

A Year of Gratitude: Day 225 (a day late)

Today I am grateful that my children seem to have developed a true love for books and reading.  Our library books were due tomorrow, so we made our way to the library and checked another twenty out.  Yes, twenty.  Then we got home and they did what they do every time we get new library books; they sit on the couch and proceed to devour them in perfect silence.  It's amazing. 

Baylor chose mostly superhero and Star Wars books, but I snagged a science book for him about weather; he loves reading for information and I think he would have gotten more books like that had he not headed for the chapter book area first.  During the silence after we return from the library, I'm pretty sure he skim reads all the books he's gotten because he always comes away with a bunch of pertinent questions.

Mollie tends to grab a variety of books, from Wonder Woman to fairies to Arthur this time, and though she can't actually read yet she loves to look through them and make stories up about all the pictures she sees.

For example, after nap time Baylor really wanted to play Star Wars with Mollie.  She wasn't really into it, but she was so hoping I'd read her the fairy book she checked out.  Sadly I was making dinner and couldn't, but I suggested she ask Baylor to read to her.  He's never done that and typically refuses to.  This time, though, I told her to sweeten the pot by telling him she'd play Star Wars with him if he read her the book.  After skimming through it, he declared that he would not read any "girl books".  They bantered about a bit, and finally he agreed to read a book to her after she "read" one to him.  So she did.

And, as I guessed would happen, he reneged on his agreement and wouldn't read to her.  *sigh*  But they had fun anyway and ended up playing Star Wars for a bit before dinner.

I digress.

I love reading and spent many hours of my youth engrossed in books, and I'm thrilled that my kiddos seem to have an affinity for it as well.

Have a wonderful day!