Been rather crazy, chaotic days (birthday party for 3rd grader after school on Friday, dance competition yesterday for daughters which lasted most of the day, volunteer appreciation dinner at our parish last night). Toss in some paperwork stuff (basketball registrations for daughters, kindergarten Halloween craft frame/photo assembly, final edit for Catholic VBS choices for the Religious Ed Board, etc). And a last minute semi-private dance lesson for younger daughter.

This left me with a "let's sleep in" mentality for this AM. This meant giving a choice to daughters as to whether or not they'd go to their dance lessons this AM. Older one said yes (to the 8:30 to 9:30 class), younger on said no (to the 9:30 to 12:30 calss).

I spent the most delightful morning with the fam doing odd stuff. I was glad to help the kindergartner with his Disguise a Turkey craft project, and to read with the 3rd grader - Flat Stanley is one of my favorites - and to talk to him about some art classes maybe in the near future, and to help play wii with the younger dance class-dodging daughter, and to help the other daughter learn to strategize when playing FB scrabble public games, and looking at wonderful Lego creations, etc.

I am grateful for the time to spend enjoying my family. I'm also grateful for coming out of my shell more and socializing without too much agonizing (it was a shock to see that DH and I at 40 were like the youngest of the parish volunteers invited to this dinner. We sat with another couple - husband is on school board, and it was a very nice and easy conversation. I'm grateful we were amongst the first to eat (the benefit of sitting at an outside table) because they underestimated the food. I'm grateful for parents who will watch the kids two days in a row. I am grateful for a husband who is putting up Christmas lights on the last warm day predicted for awhile.

I'm just loving the feeling that my cup overfloweth.