Today, I am thankful for light. My home is blessed with plenty of beautiful light. As a photographer, that makes me happy. For my soul, it feeds me! The sun filling up our space, our place where we play, read, work, talk... it just makes it all feel a lot more comfortable and welcoming.
My photos have little to do with my post, but that's okay :D
Today, the snow returned: Hello, snow! I am thankful for the beauty it brings to an otherwise stark season. But today, as I was driving with my girls, I was especially thankful for our shared appreciation of the beauty around us. 
Ahh, warm air. A scent of spring. And... a peak at grass! We haven't seen you since Christmas!!!
Look, warm enough for bare hands!!!! I don't remember the last time I went outside without mittens or gloves. It's been snowing every few days. It's been an intense, long winter. I truely love the snow, and I still do- but it was lovely to have a bit of warmer weather to remind us that winter really doesn't last forever.
Today, I am grateful for the soft light, quiet stillness of morning. I am thankful for sharing time with my little one, and I am very grateful for a SHINING sun. I am thankful for the opportunity to play with Miss S, and to play on the computer with an image I like. And, not the least, for Miss S allowing me to take her photo.
I am, and always have been by nature, a night owl. Mornings have always been harder for me. I wake up and need to snooze, at least once. My nose is snuffy, my throat scratchy, and overall groggy.
And then I gave birth to a morning bird. From the time she was born, she was naturally an early riser, one who shines as the sun does, and cranks as it goes down. Someone had to be up with her. Initially, we took turns getting up. Then I noticed something lovely happens in the morning with my Miss S.
It is quiet. She shines. She tells stories and puts on acts for me. We discuss everything from what we are looking forward to, and things we might want to do. We laugh and snuggle.
The light is different. The noises are different. The quiet that I enjoy late a t night is present in the earl morning as well. And the time with Miss S has become something I am grateful for, instead of dreading the first light of the day.
Don't get me wrong- we've done everything in our power to encourage her to be up later, and stay asleep longer. I still don't function at my best in the morning. Anytime I have to get up before 6:15 is absolutley a struggle. But I have learned to enjoy- no, that's not right- savor the beauty of morning. And savor the time with my little girl.
Above is a photo I snapped this morning, next to our sliding glass doors. To my dismay, Photoshop wasn't working. So I tried Picnic, from a prompt in Picassa. I played around a LOT with it, but was glad it could handle a RAW image. The above is the result of my plays. I couldn't even begin to tell you what I did to it. But I had a lot of fun.
Driving in to work today was truely magnificent. I wish I'd either had my camera, or been prepared to stop to take a snap with my phone. Part of me is a bit delighted that I had to "take a picture with my mind", a la Miss S. I took this snap of some ice out my door, in honor of this morning's scene.
I caught this on my phone, on an app called "Hipstamatic". Besides the fact that it is great fun and rocks the phone camera, it means when I stop to grab a photo I can enjoy snapping and the end result too. Yay photography!
Okay, so I get that it's been a severe winter. I get that we have to make up all these delicious breaks. But, I have no control. So I will be present in the present, and enjoy the gift of stopping to enjoy.
Today I am thankful for another reminder to grab avery chance we have to smile when we can, laugh hard, and just embrace silly.
I am thankful for the reminder of how much we have. But first: I made lasgna for my parents, aunt and the four of us to share for dinner. We put it outside to freeze, as the fridge is currently quite full. We used our resources available to us. Thought we were smart.
I am thankful for hair. I am thankful for hair. I am thankful for hair.
Today, I am thankful the kids got to see, touch, play with and check out at least ONE of the giant chunks of ice that has been hanging off of all the homes around here these days. This month's weather has been extreme, and the resulting icicles have been amazing. I am thankful I am married to a man that found a giant chunk, and called the girls to check it out, for me to take a picture. Today, I am thankful for the wonder of seeing a giant icicle up close with my family. 
Today I am thankful for a break. I have a day off. The kids are in school. And I took the time to sit with a cup of tea.
Today, I am thankful to be able to play with my girls. Where I work, I am reminded of the precious time I have, of the blessing of being able to be with my children and play. I am thankful to be a mother, to be the mother of my girls. I am thankful for our health. I am thankful to build memories with them.
WHAT???
Okay, yes, hair. All four of us are blessed with a LOT of hair. Three of us have brown, thick hair. Miss S's hair is lighter and a bit thinner than the rest of us. But I love their hair. It is long, it is hard to brush and keep up with, it's a chore that we go through daily. However, my girls have such lovely hair, and they love to have it down long, and it just makes me smile.
My girlies and I love having the opportunity to call a "pajama day!" Today I am thankful we are able to snuggle. I am thankful for jammies, giant pink obnoxious slippers, and a pile of mix matched, color clashing, soft as can be blankets. I am thankful my children love the opportunity to spend time together as much as I do :)
Today I am grateful that I can make a fun little capture out something I notice walking on my way out the door. As a person who LOVES to take photos, it is a gift to be able to take a quick snapshot, be able to play with camera settings, create a fun little capture, all with my cell phone. I L.O.V.E. my camera. There is no substitute. But to have at my fingertips a way to play with a quick snap simply rocks. Does that make me shallow? Hopefully, it makes me playful- because I just love when I can take a moment and PLAY.
I am thankful to return to work, to return to normal, to return to friends and a bigger world. I am thankful that the worst is over, that we can begin to get back to the familiar routine. This scene was on my drive in, I had to stop and snap it (through the window of my car, on my cell phone. Not bad!).
Today was supposed to be the girls' first day back to school. Except K's cough turned into a fever. And school was shut down, again, due to weather. So out in the ice we went, to meet K & S's new pediatrician.
Messy, goofy and totally off their rockers, just the way I love them! Today I am so grateful to have my girls back home from their grandparents. I am so grateful their grandparents were able to spoil and love them so that I could be available to support my parents through a stressful time. I am so grateful I was able to be on hand. I am thankful my in-laws are the wonderful, loving family that they are, giving my children what they need so I can give my parents what they need. Family is fantastic when we all look out for and help one another.
