Thankful for these moments

I love Thanksgiving. Love being around family. Love relaxing with the kiddos. Love the delicious food and even better conversations.

Thanksgiving means warmth and love to me and what could be better than that?

Here are 5 moments I’m thankful for. Right here and right now.

And, in the chaos that the holidays inevitably bring, I’m determined to relive these moments as often as I can.

Moment #1

One morning before I headed off to work, Little Sister wrapped her ever growing, long, and delicate arms around my neck. She squeezed as hard as she could, and as we were cheek to cheek, she says: “I’m going to remember this hug forever”.

Yep. My heart melted. Right there on our kitchen tile floor.

When I picked her up from school that afternoon, the first thing she asked me was, “Mom, did you remember my hug?”

Absolutely my sweet girl… and I always will.

Moment #2

The other afternoon, after a long day at school and then swim class, Big Brother came up to me as I was making dinner.

He said, “Mom…”, and as I was prepared to reject yet another request for a snack, he hopped into my arms.

Just like that. As if he was two years old all over again.

I held him for awhile, not wanting to be the one to let go even though my legs were starting to buckle.

I held him, like he was two, not 6 soon to be 7 and filled with questions like “how exactly did the doctor get me out of your belly?” or “what’s heaven like?”

We both held on…not wanting to let go.

Moment #3

Last Sunday we went out to eat for lunch. Our little family of four.

Little Sister hears Adele overhead on the radio. You know the one…Someone Like You.

She starts singing it and darn if it isn’t the cutest thing in the world.

Never mind, I’ll find someone like youuuu

I wish nothing but the best for you, toooo

Don’t forget me…

Hubs is watching her and smiling huge. Tears start welling up in his eyes.

A moment of perfection. Bliss.

Then someone spills water all over the place and finger pointing ensues.

No matter. We had that moment. Short, sweet, perfect.

Moment #4

I’m reading Little Sister a bedtime story. She’s getting silly and starts making up names of the characters on the page. She’s cracking herself up

Her giggles…if only I could bottle them up.

Down the hall, I hear Big Brother. He’s telling hubs something funny and his cackling is contagious.

Those giggles, the laughter….

L.O.V.E.

Moment #5

A moment I hadn’t realized happened until I saw this picture…

A spontaneous moment of pure and honest affection for each other.

As any parent raising more than one child will attest to, these moments of love and affection are fleeting and rare. And to capture it on film?

It was a moment of luck. A picture I will always treasure.

Now you know why I had to choose it as one of our photos for our Christmas cards in spite of the Halloween costumes.

This photo makes me happy.

Gratitude and love.

Right here. Right now.

My moments to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving.