Smiles

Smiles should be rewarded to those who do dishes (which is often me).  Meet my rocks.  They live on my window sill above the kitchen sink (which is currently M.I.A... but it will soon be replaced).

Erik saved them from the yard.  They always seem to make me smile, too.  You know how it is, if someone smiles at you, it makes you want to smile back.

There are other things that have made me smile lately.

• Erik conquering one project after another.  First, taming our wild backyard.  Then, humoring a wife who always as an idea... The best part of it all, and the one part of it that puts that grin right on my face- Erik's work gear.  His Grandpa Dedini's old plaid shirts, rubber garden boots, some safety device protecting his ears, eyes, face, hands, feet... or all of the above at the same time.  When we are old and gray, this is how I will remember him.

• Jonah's big goofy smile is contagious.

• Seeing Erik and Jonah bond while watching a surfing video.  Jonah was VERY involved with the video and was not happy when the storyline in the video ventured away from surfing itself.

• Cairo running around and playing with the little girls, little girls who are very special to me.

• Seeing J Bear try to stuff ALL his toys down his shirt, further accentuating the curve of his large belly.  Play food. Check. Baby bottles. Check.  Hand mitt. Check. Tea Kettle. Check...

• Cairo and Mei having wheelbarrow races on the front lawn with Uncle Nick and Grandpa Lee.

• My family, together at my house, for no reason other than to spend time together.

• My best friend, a cohesive member of my family.

• Cairo, unknowingly, getting black marker all over her face... and not understanding why her mom and dad are laughing at her.

• Rolly polly babies... and not just that, but rolly polly babies that smile so big at you with their big gummy smiles that it appears as if they are silently laughing at you. Miss Koko- you should have seen her smiles!