Happiness is...

My little boy saying "Mom, are you okay?" after every cough or sneeze I make

Listening to my daughter sing Christmas carols and learn the words to all the "grown up" ones all throughout the month of December

The sound of my kids squealing with happiness when they see extended family and all their grandmas and grandpas

Knowing that my husband loves me despite my faults and shortcomings, and that he always will

Feeling supported and encouraged by family and friends who know opening a private practice has been a life long dream of mine

Opening up a gift certificate for housekeeping services for Christmas and knowing that my husband bought it even though the "great sale" he learned about earlier in the month was over

The crackling sound the fire makes in the fireplace

Taking a walk in the neighborhood with the kids and noticing the warm smell of someone burning a fire...and then realizing it is our home that is making our little spot of the world smell so nice

Knowing that I know when there is enough

Watching A Christmas Story at least twice during the 24 hour marathon on TBS every year

Plug

I ordered Jack a backpack from (http://kidstravelzone.com) It shipped very quickly and they did a beautiful job adding his name and a picture to personalize it. When it arrived, I opened it up and realized I had accidentally ordered him the "big kid backpack" rather than the "little kid backpack". The backpack is so big Jack could climb inside it! I called the company (which is just a couple working out of their home I think) to tell them of my error and ask if there was anything I could do.

They not only said they would send me out the little backpack with the emblems and writing I had requested, but they told me to just keep the big backpack for when Jack gets bigger. Since they were letting me keep TWO backpacks, I offered to pay for the little backpack so that they would not lose money over my error, which they declined. They only asked that I order from them again sometime. Which of course I will do. A million times. Check out their website..they do GREAT work and are a wonderful, kind couple!

Kate-isms

Heard tonight at dinner-

K: Why does Molly keep woofin' all the time?

M: Do you mean barking?

K: Yeah, but I like to call it "woofin'"

And then later-

K: Oooooh, I broke it! (said in her best 4 y.o. whine) Daddy! Can you come fix this princess?

D: That one breaks alot, let me see if I can fix it.

K: That's why I call you Handy Manny. I mean, Handy Daddy.