It started with a snuggle.

This morning I was woken up early by my Number Two.  He informed me that Number One was downstairs cleaning the basement, and that he just didn't want to help him.  Instead, he wanted to snuggle me.  I honestly had to fight the urge (sad as it sounds) to tell him that I just wanted to sleep and that if he were a nice boy, he would go help his brother.  But then I remembered my goal.  And so I tucked him under my arm and he wrapped his little arms around my neck and we snuggled.  Knowing that he loves me so much and needs my comfort and attention made me happy. 

So without further ado, here is a small list of things that made me happy today:

-Redirecting the breakfast-time grumbles by helping the kids make a list of fun things we might be able to do after school.  The list made me laugh. 

-Sharing some homemade noodles with a pregnant and nauseous friend so she wouldn't have to cook dinner tonight made me fell like even though I can't do everything, I can do something.  The look on her face made me smile.

-Number Four wanted to draw on my camera lens instead of smile.  Just one of many two year old moments today that made me laugh.

-Number One's incessant air quotes.

-Seeing my children playing together always makes me happy way deep down inside.

-These spunky piggy tails.

-When Number Three scootched her dinner plate way over so she could sit right up next to me.

-The way Number Two owned the "pretend you're sitting in a chair against the wall" competition, and the way Number Three was the undisputed champion of the "lay on your back and hold onto someone's ankles and to that ab workout where you almost touch your feet to the floor and lift them up again as many times as you can" competition.

It was a good day.  I was glad that I made a mental note (and took some pictures) of the things that made me happy today, because after tucking the kids into bed, all I would naturally have thought about was how the previous 30 minutes had taken every last ounce on patience that I posessed and made me want to scream.  But instead, I gave myself a few minutes of relaxing time, and then thought back over all of the times that made me smile.  What a great way to end the day.  I like my new tradition.  Day one was a success!