The Precious Moments of Life

I am continuously amazed by my children and this past weekend was no different.  The simple everyday moments with them are the ones that amaze me the most.

Sunday I gave up my Bengals ticket so that my mother in law could go watch her loved Steelers in person and that meant time with my kiddos, which I love.  So as I was sitting there with Caden and Maggie, we were watching the Bengals and Steelers play. Caden who, god love him has been brain washed by his Memaw Jo, was cheering for the Steelers and giving me a run for my money on who was cheering on their team more.  He is sitting there wearing his jersey, saying they are going to win and really just cracking me up that he has passion to cheer on a team who he would have never had known if it wasn't for his Memaw Jo. 
We watched the first half together then Mallory decides to join the party, well he got her to cheer with him.  So there I am laying on the couch with 3 kids sitting on top of me, 2 of them cheering for the Steelers, me cheering for the Bengals and 1 - Miss Maggie - just cheering for the "people".  It was a beautiful and amazing moment.  I asked Maggie who the "people" were and she said, "you know - those people" pointing to the TV - I guess she was cheering for both teams and their supporters too! 

Cale wasn't to be left out - he eventually woke from his nap and got in some snuggle with mommy time.  He thinks I am very good at pushing play on the DVD so that we can watch a movie together, right now Toy Story 3 and Curious George are our favorites.  Laughter was all around us this weekend as we watched these movies and the kids act them out with their own toys and to hear the monkey sounds of Cale and Mallory are just priceless. 

Later in the day on Sunday, as the tag team of Caden and Maggie emerged to get mommy to cave on what they wanted to do, Maggie proceeds to tell me, "mom, you are an awesome mommy"  I think it was because I got their game down for them but either way hearing it come from her was heartwarming.  And yet those two amazed me by playing nicely together for an hour then picking up their game and asking me to put it away for them. 

Then just yesterday as Caden, Mallory and I are driving home from Connor's basketball game - which he won and played great at, Way To Go RED! - Caden says to me,"mommy, I want to get an After Burner Monster truck for my birthday and Christmas, you know the one we saw when we went to get toys for the kids who don't have any" my heart melted.  At work we are collecting for Operation Christmas Child, which delivers a shoebox size of gifts to children who may otherwise have nothing for Christmas.  I decided this year to involve Caden and Maggie in this process, I really did not think that the meaning would sink in for them as Matt and I took all 4 kids with us to purchase some items, it was just chaos and took everything we had to just get out of the store.  But my little man proved me wrong - he got it and I couldn't be prouder of him.  Yes he maybe asking for something for himself but he knows that there are children out there who don't have toys and who don't have the things that he does.  I can only hope that this is the beginning of the many teachings I want to share with my children about doing things for others. 

Yesterday those precious moements hit me and made me stop to think about our many moments lately, so today as I finish up my lunch I had to take a minute and reflect on what is truly the precious moments of life... 
It is the everyday things that my children continue to teach me that make it just an amazing honor to be lucky enough to be their parent.  It is their love and laughter that sends smiles to your face and warmth to your heart.  It is knowing that they are learning and watching you everyday.  It is knowing that they are becoming amazing people.  It is knowing love!  Thank you my babies, thank you.