Because I know you’ve been wondering. . .

I did it.  I really did it.  After months and months of procrastination, I finally put action to my words. . . and got the job done.

In case you’re wondering. . . I’m talking about my cookbooks.  If you’re still not sure what I’m talking about, check this out. 

Oh, let me tell you. . . it felt so good.  Like I lost 35 pounds.  (Actually, it was probably more like 75 pounds). 

How did I do it?  Well, I literally closed my eyes, grabbed stack upon stack of cookbooks and cooking magazines and shoved them into trash bags. I removed all sentimental value from them and I. . .

let. them. go. 

I know you’re on the edge of your seat waiting for the big reveal, aren’t you?  Close your eyes.

Go ahead. . . close them, I’ll wait.

No peeking.

Okay. . . open them. . .

There are no longer cook books stacked and breaking the shelving in the laundry room.

Ta-Da!! 

(I’m taking my bow.)  Thank you very much.

When it was done I did a few cartwheels and my best version of the moon walk. 

“Who’s Bad?!”

Okay, that was really just a lame attempt to make you, dear reader, smile. 

Speaking of smiles.  A lot of things made me smile this weekend. 

My kids, sharing a seat, while Charlie chatted on the phone with Daddy.  The scene was cute enough by itself, but then I noticed this. . .

For some reason, they prefer to wear just one sock.  I have no idea why. . . but they seem most comfortable this way.  Charlie has always done this. . . it seems that Chanelle is following suit.

This scene also made me smile. . .

Despite the 23 degree temps, Chanelle was insistent that she had to try on her new summer dress.  While I watched her examine herself in the mirror, I fast-forwarded to 25 years from now.  Chanelle in a beautiful white wedding dress. . . me watching from behind. 

(This smile is mixed with tears.  The bitter-sweet kind.)

Bath time brings smiles to all of our faces. . .

I don’t know what it is about bath time, but even my son who usually is quite camera shy beams for the camera.  BEAMS.  He splashes, kicks, spits, and sprays the water and laughs from his belly the entire time.  I hope we are nowhere near the end of his thrill of bath time. 

This one. . . she loves bath time, too. . .

I smiled before, during, and after lunch. . . because my Dad is that cool.  And I get that I’m a lucky girl to have a dad that will sit, talk, listen, and be present with his daughter for her incessant chattering.  I celebrate it and count each moment a blessing. . . because that’s what it is.  A blessing.

Here was another smile producer. . .

I think this is week 4 of this scene in our living room.  The two of them have been working on this project endlessly and it’s still not done.  I think today was 5 straight hours and I believe I heard Charlie say “I can’t wait until it’s done.” no less than 27 times.  The two of them. . . they are learning patience.  (Thank you, Poppy, for this project.)

Yeah.  It made me smile. . . but I didn’t let Chad see. . . he was too frustrated.

And if you can handle just one more.  I smiled as I watched my daughter become a mother to her stuffed dinosaur.

She so carefully dressed, cradled, rocked, and swaddled her little baby before gently swaddling “her” and putting her to bed. . .

. . . and shushing all of us so “she” can sleep.

There were more smiles. . . many more.  I will end for now and offer wishes for you to have eyes to see smile-producing scenes wherever you go today.