Friday, August 20, 2010

Small and Simple Things

I'm a bit emotional these days.  I'm feeling this way for a lot of reasons, and mostly they don't need to be talked about here.  But, suffice it to say....tears have been shed for the stresses of life, and also for the goodness of others.  We are BLESSED, so blessed in our life.

BUT, the real reason I wanted to write was for the joy that really small and simple things bring me. 

Simple things like:

Holly pressing the follow buttong and bringing me up to 97 followers. Yes Holly, that DID make me really happy.

A comment from a new and or unexpected reader.

Hearing Max say "Tank you mama" all on his own.  I get him something, or pick him up and he'll just say, in his super sweet, high pitched (or well, sometimes super low and growelly) voice..."Tanks" or "Tank you mama".  Something about the "Mama" just GETS to me.

Walking in the door from the gym and having Maggie or Max or both come RUNNING with pure glee screaming my name.

When announcing that dinner is ready...having Max yell at the top of his lungs. "MAGGGGGGGIEEEEE et's EAT!"  "Eat dinner!"

Or the fact that Max can NOT do anything without wanting to share with Maggie.  If he asks for a sucker, and I hand him one, he then says in a question tone "Maggie?" "Maggie want one." He ALWAYS wants to share with her.




Watching Max "fold" his arms for prayer.  It's this half held, fold thing and he tries so hard.  It's adorable.

A morning spent with my sister Dixie, just visiting and laughing.  That doesn't happen enough.


Do NOT hate me Dixie.  This was a silly shot from a game night in Greer.

Listening to Maggie tell me "secrets."

Having max say "I DO IT.  I DO IT!"  He's nearly 2 and has hit that stage where he's gonna do it all himself dangit.  Sometimes frustrating, but mostly, SO melts my heart.



Seeing Maggie walk around with her backpack for school, and how PROUD and excited she is to be the "older sister" and going to school.

Impromptu movie parties on a Friday night with our kids.

Tonight we decided to have an impromptu movie party with the kids.  I told them that we would have a special party, popping popcorn and watching a movie.  Maggie was so excited about this, and so was Max, though he didn't really get it.  I can not tell you how adorable it was, and how happy it made me to have Maggie snuggled up next to me, eating her popcorn and giggling at the movie.  Max did a pretty good job watching for awhile and throwing eating his popcorn.  We watched "Monsters Vs. Aliens"  which is ADORABLE!!!!  I laughed so many times at this movie.  At the end we were waiting to see who the voices were and Jere said the General was the same voice as in Toy Story.  Maggie threw her arms up in the air and in total glee said "TOY STORY...THAT'S MY FAVORITE."  So great.  Then, she promptly said, "I'm really tired, I'm going to bed."  Then as we were standing by her door my three year old says "I'm super WAY tired."  It all made my heart happy.

Surprise visits at 9:30 p.m. from our cute friends that are away at college and or traveling violin rockstars. So fun and unexpected. (we love you Lies'l and Taylor)


Just a random shot of Tay tay after his recital the other night.  Sorry, no pics of lovely Lies'l

Yep....sometimes it's the small and simple things that bring the greatest joy.

Thank goodness for all these things, so that the CRAP of life doesn't get you completely down.


Sweet babies and popcorn messes,

Allyson

18 comments:

Alexandra said...

I;ve had a week like that, too. You just gotta keep on going, it's the only thing to do.

Hope next week is better for you.

alison said...

God bless the little things....because otherwise there are days that a padded room, medication, and mild restraints would be the only things that would save me from myself. hope next week rocks for you....i don't want my a-tuda-2-L-and-a-Y-son doing any sad faces. it throws my chi off balance and i don't need any help falling over!!

Kristina P. said...

I had a night like that last night, where I was just feeling bummed. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it sucks. Hang in there!

Greg and Tammy said...

Cute post. And it is definitely those dmall and simple things that help us through the large hurdles of life. Max really is getting so big. Some of his stories are just adorable. I hope our little guy can be just like him.

DianD said...

And LONG after the crap has been forgotten and you can hardly believe you even had such, the memories of the sweet, simple things will linger and make your heart swell and your lips turn up and your gratitude quotient explode again and again and again!
Love you.... Mom

Unknown said...

Home made Ginger Pear soap and Home Made Pear Honey were my simple things today! :-) It's great to see/read a post like this.

Isn't God great?!!!

✩Molly✩ said...

I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to have 97 followers, but the fact that I have finally reached 42 did make me quite happy, just moments before I clicked on the link to your blog :) Keeps me humble, I suppose :D

I think it is so good to realize that there are so many small and simple things that we have that we should truly be so grateful for.

I am always just so grateful that I get to hear all the wonderful things that Scarlett says the first time she comes up with them, and I tell Joe about them before we go to sleep and he just laughs and laughs.

Jen West said...

I am so glad you can notice all the wonderful things even when other things are vying for our attention. Your babes are adorable and if i was your sister i would be TICKED! haha!

Dixiechick said...

Allyson, seriously. You have plenty 'o other pics of me. I will simply stop doing surprise visits if THIS is the way I'll be blogged about. :)

Untypically Jia said...

Good for you for noticing the little things that make life wonderful! Love all the pics by the way!

Buttons and Dots Photography said...

Always good when you can stop and see the little things. After all, it is those things that make us who we are today!

Annette said...

This is the sweetest blog to read as I start my day. So helpful to me. You made me smile and hug my kids;) I hope you big things in life will lessen for you.

Kristi said...

I love posts like these that remind me to have a grateful heart for all the big and small blessings in my daily life. And, I love kiddie-talk like "Tanks mama."

Luciana Silva said...

Hi Allyson!!! Yes, simple things are the best, " remember forever ..... " Happy SITS Day!!! Lovely family !!

Young Wife said...

What a sweet post! Happy SITS Day!

Babes about Town said...

I must be in the same emotional space as you because this brought tears to my eyes. I'm falling for your little Max (I just love that age) and Maggie's so sweet with her movie critiques - sounds like what my 4-year-old would say.

Also love the fact you posted THAT pic of your sis, I can tell she's gorgeous anyway but it's those 'real' photos that we most treasure, no? Hope you had a fab SITS day.

Darcel @ The Mahogany Way said...

Happy SITS Day! Sometimes it's the simple things in life that really make life worth living.

Kimi said...

I LOVE 'tank you'. That is how my little girl says it. LOVE IT.