The little things...

I was working at The Barn Girl's Boutique all weekend and so Daddy had the kids all weekend by himself. He said he had the best time...just him and the kids. They went to the little holiday bazaar at Dominic's preschool and had hotdogs, visited Mommy at The Barn Girl's (and made her day by running down the hall with oustretched arms calling "MOMMY!"), and then on Sunday they went to a movie- Madagascar 2. He said it was the cutest thing to watch how excited and appreciative they were...Dom was running around the theater foyer saying "this way, this way, over here" and Gianna danced in the aisle during the movie. (She cannot keep her little body from moving and shakin' when music comes on.) Then Gianna shared a seat with Dom and kept looking at Vinny with a huge smile- as if to say, "This is the best Daddy!" Dominic was thrilled that he got to share a pop with Daddy. (That a big deal at our house.) When I got home in the evening the kids ran to the door, spilling over with excitement about all that they had done. Gianna used a lot of hand motions and facial expressions as she babbled along after Dom. They were so happy to have these little foam ornaments from the preschool, and showed me how they danced at the movie. (Nick was not here this weekend.)
On Saturday night our family went up to the Langston's to celebrate Shelley's birthday with dinner and a bonfire. Usually we would spend the night there when it gets so late, but we knew we had a big day on Sunday so we got the kids up from sleeping and carried them to the car. I thought they would conk out on the drive home, (since it was 11 pm) but when I looked back through the darkness and intermittent street lights there was G...swaying back and forth to the music. It was so sweet.
Sunday morning was so calm...we all read books together...those kids would have us read the whole bookshelf if we would let them! Gianna is really starting to "read." She will look at books that we have read to her, and say the words that go with the pages as she turns them...she remembers the important vocabulary! (Exciting for a teacher mom!) Dominic is very into nonfiction- dinosaurs and vehicles!
Tonight Vinny and I were talking about how lucky we are that our kids are so thankful for the little things (you would think we were going to Disneyland when I get them new toothbrushes!) and who are so enthusiastic about what life has to offer them. We hope we can continue to instill in them how truly blessed we are, and..."the best things in life aren't things."