The little things.

The last couple months, weeks, and days have been very stressful for our family, and I am sick and sleep deprived so I blame my current uncontrollable emotions on all that but I read a blog today mentioned by one of my friends and I just can't seem to forget the writer and her family. They lost their little one year old daughter in a drowning accident in their own back yard. One of her posts talks about her first Sunday at church after the accident and how weird it was to not have a nap deprived baby on her hip and how sad her husband was because he didn't have to spend Priesthood in the halls. She mentions in another post the things her other children do that normally drive her nuts but now are not such a big deal. I felt like she was talking to me because I allow my kids to drive me nuts way too often. I spend the three hours of church walking the halls and every day when I make dinner, I hold Ashlyn, have Andy crying and hanging on one leg, and Taylor on the other (it is amazing the food turns out edible). How badly would the mom I am mentioning want to have her nap deprived child attached to her hip at church on Sunday or have her hanging on her leg while she makes dinner? Probably more than we can even imagine. Her blog has struck a profound chord with me and I think I will be forever changed. It reminds me of the country song "You're Gonna Miss This." If something ever happened to one of my children I would MISS walking the halls or having them hang on me. I need to appreciate them, rejoice in them and be grateful that Heavenly Father has entrusted them to me and that they are healthy and happy and here. I need to not let the stresses of this life darken my eternal perspective.

In another post she posed this challenge:
Take a minute for me tonight and record the little things your kids do right now. They don't even need to be cute things. Someday when your baby is grown you may even miss the food thrown on the ground or the face wiped on the sleeve.Cherish the little things. For the little things are the spice in life.

So here it is, the little things about my children that bring spice to my life:

Taylor:
-Always, always dressed for the royal ball. And not just her, she makes sure Ashlyn has a tutu on and Andy has his Prince cape on.
-Always wants her hair down with a hideous headband on.
-Incredibly picky about the clothes she wears. Likes skirts and jean shorts. Does not like her shirts to have anything on the front like a bow, or a gather, and can't be too long or too short..good heavens!
-Her favorite line, "I get a marble in my jar!"
-Loves to play with friends.
-Can get excited about anything (ie: marble in the jar).
-Has a great vocabulary, is very smart, and loves to talk.
-Has an insane memory.
-Talks about her bday party everyday (we are on the 5 month countdown).
-Loves to read books.

Andy:
-My incredibly sweet, handsome boy who loves to cuddle. Today he would run to me as I put my hands out just to give me a kiss (we did this about 10 times).
-Loves music and to dance.
-Loves to throw balls with someone.
-Loves his daddy and Grandpas (spends too much time outnumbered by girls).
-Walks and runs like Jack Sparrow from Pirates.
-Loves to play in the water.
-Great Laugh

Ashlyn:
-Our little firecracker with more spunk, attitude, and confidence than should be allowed in a 17 month old.
-Loves to climb on anything and everything (counter tops, couches, chairs, table, crib, etc)
-Loves music and dance and is currently trying to master a somersault.
-Loves shoes. She can be found throughout the day with shoes on that belong to Tyler, me, Taylor, Andy, or any visitor at our home.
-Has a round little belly, cute little booty, and the smallest feet ever.
-She has no fear and does not see anything as an obstacle (ie: walking like a big kid down stairs, climbing onto the side of the couch and letting herself drop onto the floor, climbing out of her crib onto the changing table into Andy's crib, grunting the entire way because remember she is small). Just as a side note: the changing table has been moved =)

I tried to keep it short but I could seriously go on and on now that I stop and think about each one of them and the funny things that make them who they are. I need to do it more often. I now have a smile on my face as I think of all the quirky things they do that are the icing on my cake. How blessed I am to have these 3 sweet spirits in my life. In addition to Tyler, they are my everything.