Mmmm...

The other night we were both outside... Staring up at the stars. It was a C O L D, clear night. Dead of winter night, where there isn't a rustle in the forest and the stars seem so vast and s o  f  a  r  away... And I turned to him and said, "This is it. Do you know what I mean? Us, the kids, this place, right now. All of it. This is it." And he smiled sweetly and gave me a hug and said, "Yeah, I know what you mean." And he sure as hell didn't, how could I put it into words? But he knew I couldn't do better and he did understand in his own way what I meant. That. That is love. That is what I celebrate every day. Between the dark looks, the wild questions from kids, the stress, the craziness - those little moments of pure stillness, where everything fits together and you just feel it from the tips of your toes to the end of your nose. This is my life. I love my life. Every shitty, amazing, beautiful moment of it.

We get really excited for holidays around here, and Valentine's Day is no different. A day to pause and remind those around you that they are loved. That's not a half bad idea. Heart-shaped, red pancakes? Sure, they are absolutely necessary.

 

 Kasper wanted a pair of celebration pants for school and big sister chimed in she wanted a shirt of some sort. So in between work assignments and dinners and all else, I sewed. And I love those moments of creating something from scratch - those easy, sweet kid garments from my fabric stash that you know they will be so very happy for and that can be done in a few hours. Love it.

Kasper wore his pants three days in a row and AnaSofia, on the morning of her school party, lamented that she wished her stuffed animal she was allowed to bring in had a matching skirt. Thirty minutes later we had it done and headed off to the bus. And it was perfect, not stressful. Just fun.

 

L O V E my little ones and the big hubs SO much. Thanks for the gift of today and for the little moments of everyday...