You Know When.....

You know you are loved when: Your husband abruptly wakes up from a deep sleep in the wee hours of the morning, rolls over, grabs you up into his arms, squeezes you like there will be no tomorrow, says I just love you so much!, places you back on your pillow, rolls back over, and goes right back to sleep.

You know you no longer have any babies when: Your youngest crawls out of his crib for the first time and refuses to go back in it without repeating the process.  When you are forced to take down the crib that has been up in your house for the past 8 years.  The crib that all of your kids slept in when they were little.

You know you are getting old when: Your four year old daughter touches your hand, looks up into your eyes and innocently says Mommy I like your wedding ring.  When you die, can I have it?

You know you are the best mom ever when: Your kids come up to you, throw their arms around your neck, and bear hug you for no reason. When they say I love you, when you didn't initiate it by saying it first.

You know your youngest son is proud of his "parts" when: You take your kids to play in the tunnels at McDonald's and glance up to find him pantless, running around, doing a little jig, happy as can be.  You send your oldest daughter up to retrieve him and he fights her tooth and nail all the way down to the bottom.

You know you are the best home school teacher in the world (or that your oldest doesn't want to go to a public school anytime soon) when: Your child starts whining about doing schoolwork and you remind her that every child her age has to go to school and, unlike her,  most of them are stuck there working from at least 8:00 in the morning until 2:30 in the afternoon every day.  Your child then quickly snaps back into shape and milks it by saying Mom, you are the best teacher.  I love doing school with you.

This is my life.  These are the things that keep me grounded and help me to realize how fortunate I am!