Ordinary days

I love re-centering.

Taking time to just breathe and enjoy things.

This last week provided great opportunity for that.

It was one of those things that was completely unexpected with just a shift in perspective. 

You feel like it is just going to be an ordinary week, with ordinary things that go on. 

Instead for some reason this time when your ordinary life happens it seems new and wonderful.

Maybe it is because we are just coming down from the busy Thanksgiving rush. 

Or maybe it is because I have finals next week?

All I know is this week our routine seemed perfect.

I love my life.

Brent has always enjoyed playing games with the kids. I am usually not interested because they always choose monopoly. I CAN NOT stand monopoly. Sorry boys! It's true. Also, I am somewhat impatient and easily distracted during our games. I can't wait for them to be more interested in Scrabble!

Anyways one night this week we asked the boys to pick something other than Monopoly.

We have plenty of games to choose from. 

Games that we have bought, or have been gifted to us over the years...

Of course they chose a game that I do not particularly like the name of "Fact or Crap".

It is a game where you get cards and while reading them you decide whether the statements are true or not. Although it offers many interesting tid-bits, I do not like the kids saying "crap" game or not. The game is rated for 8 years old on up?!

It was fun though. Not just playing a game with the boys, but taking the time during the game to recognize how they are growing. How their thought processes are changing. How they are getting more and more mature.

As I looked around the table during the game I realized that my sweet baby was a teenager (something I still need time to get used to).

Brayden was also older. 

A fourth grader. 

After one more year he will be a middle school-er. 

Yikes!

My mind wandered back to the exact conversation that Brent and I decided to have another baby. 

Then there is Brent. 

He was 19 when we met. 

Now here he is over 30. 

I can not believe time has carried us into the center of our adulthood. He often looks at me with adoring eyes and comments on how beautiful I am aging. I am not one of those vain people who fear aging. Fear grey hair and wrinkles taking their earned place on my body, I embrace aging.

So much foresight and wisdom come through living life and to be suspended in youth could never offer what aging has.

Looking at Brent reminds me how much growth can happen in a decade.

 I look forward to an eternity.

Finally the game ended and we moved into our family reading, but not before we played dinosaurs with August.

The boys continued to play while I made them hot chocolate...

 Of course when MOM goes in the kitchen everyone follows...even Cosmo.

 Mitch and Dad (for some reason) got into swinging August around. 

My mom would die if she saw the boys playing in the kitchen.

It makes me laugh how laid back I can be...compared to her.

 Finally the hot cocoa was done and the boys took their places around the table.

August chose the Santa head cup!

Brent mentioned peppermint hot cocoa so the boys looked through all the Halloween candy for peppermint pieces to add to their drinks. As if marshmallows weren't enough!

The boys played with Cosmo while I cleaned up and got ready for our reading time. 

While they were playing I was just engrossed in how cute they are. 

Noticing how well they interact and take care of one another. Knowing that they are bonded to each other. I love seeing their friendships develop and knowing they will sustain anything.

Truly caught up in that moment. 

Where you just can not believe you are so lucky. 

That these souls were put in your care.

 How amazing being a parent is!

And then of course there is also the amazing spouse!

After Cosmo and the boys were all tired we pulled out the books and started reading by the glow of Christmas tree lights.

 *Did I mention I LOVE hardwood floors.*

 It wasn't going to be a deal breaker in the house we bought, but I am glad that the one we fell in love with had them.

Anyways,

Brent has been reading a novel to the older boys for awhile, so he continued that. 

 They all went and climbed in our bed.

After a couple of Christmas books August went to climb in with Daddy and brothers.

 Aren't they adorable all cuddled together!

 Of course that never lasts long with a four year old. August jumped around awhile and the boys just kept listening to their Dad read. 

Then I took August out to help me flip the first day on our Christmas calendar. 

We had another great conversation about the birth of Jesus.

We counted the days of the month and read the special verse for the day!

As usual after reading the boys brushed their teeth and went to bed. 

Brent and I took turns tucking them in and giving them good night kisses.

There is something so peaceful and fulfilling with a houseful of children that are yours. 

To watch them sleeping. To see your son at thirteen years old resemble a memory of a baby in your arms breathing in and out with a fast beating heart. When they are sleeping they totally look just as they did as babes.

So the week was nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary, but enough to make me realize I have so much to be thankful for. Each ordinary day is a gift.