Keep Love in Your Heart, Little One

I LOVE decorating for Valentine's Day!

Peek-a-boo with a funny hat and a pretzel stick sticking out of my mouth!

Hayley let us borrow these hats for our chilly walks and the girls can't get enough of them ;)

Eli had a play date with Chaylin from his class the other day.

I know this lunch isn't the healthiest, but it was funny watching the girls dip their fingers in ketchup.

Our rainy day activity!

Thad, Eli S. and Finn decorating the space ship.

This was the scene when Eli came home from school.

At least once a day, we have to spend about 10 minutes searching for "duckie" (Lydia's favorite pacifier). She follows me around the house calling, "Duuuuckie! Where are you?" We look under the couches, beds, dressers and behind doors. Ryan and I laugh so hard watching and listening to her.

Ryan finally found duckie and we tried to let Lydia find him. She was too busy playing with my bra and looking at herself in the mirror to notice.

Can you see duckie?

Every so often my heart fills up with so much love for these little ones I can hardly stand it.
Tonight I read my favorite story to the boys at bedtime and it really hit home.

Keep Love
in Your Heart,
Little One
by Giles Andreae

One evening, long after my sleep time
Big softly crept to my bed
And stretched out warm fingers to ruffle my hair.
"I love you, my darling," Big said.

Now, Big must have thought I was sleeping
And I didn't open an eye.
Instead I just let the words float through my mind
Like balloons floating up through the sky.

"I love you, my Small," Big continued.
"But there's so much to do in the day
That it's hard to sit down and to make enough time
To say all of the things I should say.

"And it's funny, but now that you're sleeping
And everything's quiet and calm
The words seem to be much more easy to speak."
And Big laid a soft hand on my arm.

"You're everything I always dreamed of
You've got so much beauty inside.
The way that you smile, that you laugh, that you dance
Makes my heart want to sing out with pride.

"You live as though life's one huge present
Unwrapping a bit every day.
That's just how we all should be living, my love
And look at you showing the way!"

"And sometimes I know when I scold you
You feel that I'm being unfair.
But please understand that it's just out of love."
And Big swept back a strand of my hair.

"There are things in this life that can hurt you
They come to us all-that I know.
But they all give us chances to learn, darling Small
And they all give us chances to grow.

"So when you get knocked down, my sweetheart
Look up at the sky without fear
For sometimes we need to be flat on our backs
Before starlight begins to appear.

"And please above all else remember-
Keep love in your heart, little one.
Reach out out the world like a beautiful flower
Stretches out to the warmth of the sun.

"It's the only sure way to be happy
The only sure way to be free.
Believe in yourself and believe in your dreams
And you'll be what you dream you can be."

At last, Big lay down on my pillow
And planted a kiss on my head.
"My beautiful, wonderful, glorious child
You light up my world," Big then said.

With that, Big crept out of my bedroom
Turning 'round for one last little peep.
I hugged my small pillow and smiled a big smile
And then slowly I drifted to sleep.