The Little Things

At my house this isn't always the case!

It's the little things, really, that make motherhood so rewarding:


The extra long hugs, especially when you know your kids don't usually love them.

The charming I'm-so-proud-of-myself smiles of accomplishment.

The crayons found hidden in your underwear drawer by only God knows who, that make you laugh out loud at 6:00 a.m. when you find them.

The almost compliments received, like "you'd be pretty today, Mommy, if you weren't wearing make-up.  Or that shirt."

The hilarity of going out without the children, thinking you look great for a change, only to discover one of your charming offspring used your shoulder as a tissue when she hugged you good-bye, and so now you look like maybe YOU are the one that uncouthly blew your nose on your shirt.  

The countless pieces of artwork that threaten to swallow your fridge whole.

The shampoo bottles in the shower that have all been filled to the top with water.

The moments when you almost catch your kids using good manners, like when they fart so long you think they might need to be hosed off after, and then they say "EXCUSE ME FOR FARTING!!  THAT WAS ME!"  *eye roll*

The notes scribbled on bedroom walls in pen.

The smiley faces on well-done school assignments.

The laughter you hear when your children are playing and you know they are NOT in the middle of destroying something.


These things all make me laugh (eventually), and the list could go on and on.  But regardless of what memories your kids create for you to hold in your heart forever, nothing is quite so smile-inducing as a good old-fashioned school photo.  A school photo is one of those little things that you will reflect upon and smile about forever.  I mean, seriously, how could you not get a kick out of a school picture?!  They are usually less than perfect pictures, which makes them completely perfect memories!  (Not to mention great blackmail when the whole dating garbage begins.)

So, with out further ado, let me reveal the third grade results for Princess and Birdie's fall school photos!

Birdie's picture was the best I've seen in a long while on the Crazy Train.  Although she's not exactly smiling, she's not rolling her eyes like she was in her first grade picture, and she's not wearing jewelry made from animal parts or silk foliage in her hair like in the second grade picture.  I'll take it.

Birdie, doing her best impression of what Mona Lisa
would look like without a smile.

Princess's picture is also not bad, per se... but I could have hoped for a better expression.  I am going to give the photographer the benefit of the doubt and say that s/he couldn't have possibly looked at this picture before dismissing Princess.  I mean, they had digital cameras, for Pete's sake!  They could have done a do-over on the spot if they'd just taken a look.  Doesn't the look on her face convey confusion?  Or at the very least a this-shouldn't-be-a school-picture vibe?!  Seeing the look on her face makes me wonder what she was looking at... should I be reporting an inappropriate something going on during picture day?  Whatever caused this expression is something I, too, would like to see-- purely for the sake of science, mind you.  What a gloriously giggle-inducing picture-- it's pretty and pretty silly all at the same time!  And the best part is that Princess loves it and refuses to have a retake!  You're welcome, Class of 2012-13-- this one's going in the yearbook!  Oh yeah!

Can't you just see the  "WTF" thought bubble
floating over her head?!

Like I said, it's the little things, people, that put a smile in a mother's heart.  Right now, my heart's smiling AND singing "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Da" all at the same time.  I'm gonna love whipping this bad boy out for future boyfriends!  (You know-- because she likes this picture so much and all.)

Just for fun, I would LOVE it if you tried to caption these pictures-- my co-workers and I have already had a stab at it, and of course we were cracking ourselves up!  Go ahead.  Make me laugh-- I dare you!