The Fighter's

216. Hot breakfasts. 217. Greetings in the morning from Ava that go like this "You know what I love mommy? Your muffins." I don't get these sort of greetings every day - so I'll take this thankfulness any day! 218. My nephew and niece - their close proximity - I get to babysit - love them. 219. Jet/Mattingly snuggles. 220. 63 degree days in January - the feel of spring. 221. Kids laughing and running and playing. 221. Adoring stares between sisters and cousins.  And hugs. 222. Nap time (kids) and my green tea. 223. Freshly mopped floors. 224. Smell of bleach. 225. Husbands who cook.

209. Laughing. 210. Remarkable sunrises over snow dusted barns & farm fields.  I love Ohio. 211. Good days at work.  My job stresses me out at times - but went down to the office today and had a great day with co-workers, my boss bought us all lunch - and I have the best business users ever.  They did make fun of my coffee stained papers.  I told them I love coffee and I like to save trees.  The coffee stain I drew a face in with spiky hair did deserve some picking on. 212. Remote starters (except when they don't work right).  I stopped at McDonalds on the way home for dinner - got out of the car, tried to lock it but when I got to the McD's door - the car started running.  I went back, turned it off - repeated the door lock, etc. - and the car kept starting.  This happened 2 more times.  I finally got it to lock (without starting) but stood at the McDonalds door  for a few minutes to make sure it didn't start again.  The car was possessed.  I'm convinced.  213.

202. Breakfast dates with Grammy and little girls who behave! 203. Water fountain entertainment. 204. Naps. For me and the girls. 205. Coupons and cheaper grocery trips. 206. Vegetable beef soup and homemade biscuits like my mom used to make. 207. Sunday night fires. 208. Clean girls snuggling before bed - and my 2 year old operating an iphone.

200.  Road trips \- all packed in - coffee, bagels and the weekend ahead of us. 201.  Old neighbors who became great friends.  We traveled down for Cami's 5th birthday - and stayed with some of our best friends from Columbus.  The girls had a blast with their friends and so did we.  We were so blessed to have such fantastic neighbors - we miss them dearly!

185. Recliner scrunch snuggles with the girls. 186. Slow mornings. 187. Sound of birds chirping in the winter. 188. Doctors and healthcare and medicine.  Poor Olivia woke up this morning crying and wouldn't stop for a few hours - so we went to the doctor and they suspected a UTI.  I spent 6 hours of today chasing her around trying to get a urine sample (which gave me even more incentive to potty train)!  We finally got it, along with antibiotics to put her on the mend!  Can't tell you how thankful I am to live in a country with fantastic healthcare and medicine.  189.  Friday night basketball games - buzzers, cheers, excitement of a game.  The girls loved it - they especially love watching their Uncle Rob coach.  So proud of him!

182. Olivia talking.  She talks non stop - and I love her new words.  Today she pointed at me and said so excitedly - "that's my fingernail."  183. Crock pot dinners. 184. Bedroom doors decorated by my favorite six year old.  Complete with hearts, ladybugs, snowflakes, a self portrait, names of everyone in our family, sunshine, butterflies, a peace sign and a cross:-) 

177.  Coffee on Sunday mornings. 178.  Sleeping in and walking down to find little girls who were so proud of themselves because they had made breakfast for themselves.  Lucky Charms marshmallows and yogurt. I cracked up when I saw this...at least half is nutritious:-)   179. Sledding hills! So much fun sledding down the same hill I used to sled down when I was their age.  They are little dare devils and insisted on going down by themselves and squealed when their sled would turn backwards!  Those are my girls!! 180. Sunday night dinner with my family. 181.  Phone conversations with my two year old nephew who melts me with his "Aunt Keeeim's".  There is just something about that little boy!

171.  Bleach.  Ava had the flu last night.  I love bleach. 172. Much needed lunch out with my mom and two of my favorite people - Barb & Allison. 173. Brightness of the sun glistening off the white snow. 174. My bundled up peanuts. 175. Helpful cashiers who go out of their way to make sure I take advantage of a store's deals! 176. The guys in my life. 177. Excited little girls - anticipating a night out at the Daddy Daughter dance with their dad and grandpa.

164. Mom's group. 165. Kate's preschool teachers.  I went to preschool with her today - and it was so much fun.  I played with play-dough, lost in memory games, jumped around the room like a rabbit, played zoo, listened to stories with the kids, listened to them pray in their circle time (which was too cute for words).  And her teacher Cheryl is one of the kindest, most patient, gentlest ladies I've ever watched.  Happy that when Kate's not at home, she's with Miss Cheryl. 166. Innocence, sweetness and honesty of kids. 167. Not having to cook. 168. Snowstorms mixed with fires. 169. CBC Winter Warmer (my favorite beer ever!). 170. The many faces of Olivia...

161. Anticipation of snow. 162. My green tea:-) 163. Having Doug home.

154. Wind that makes my house creek. 155. Pattering raindrops on rooftops. 156. My afternoon tea. 157. Ominous clouds. 158. Accomplishing laundry. 159. The peace and confidence I have in Jesus. 160. Conversations between two little girls at bedtime that go something like this: Ava pats her bed and says "come here Kate." Kate sits and Ava says..."so how was your day, what did you do?" Kate: "well I had snack - you know, pretzels like Grammy's...the flat kind not round, and cheese." Ava lays back quickly on her bed, slaps her forehead and exclaims "oooooooh my gosh....I just love those pretzels...I can't even take it!"  The conversation went on from there but that was my favorite, favorite part:-) How I pray, pray, pray, pray, pray...these little bedtime chats and loving connections happen throughout their years.

143. Sleeping in. 144. A day off. 145. Breakfast and coffee with wonderful new friends. 146. Patty - our amazing, wonderful one of a kind babysitter - she has been with us for over two years and I am SOOOO incredibly thankful for her and the care she provides the girls when I have to work (or need a night out with my guy).  She is fantastic. 147. Snow crunching under foot as Doug and I take a long walk through a winter wonderland at Wildwood. 148. Sound of water rushing and racing over rocks, through creeks. 148. Time with Doug. 149. Alone time in the kitchen. 150. 7-Up. 151. Fires roaring in the fireplace. 152. Dinner with some of our best T-town friends and their kids. beautiful friendships.

133. A good night's sleep. 134. Waking up to girls playing nicely downstairs. 135. Mini feet walking on tip toes (Olivia) 136. Broken 2 year old sentences. 137. Crayons, scissors and paper spread across the floor in front of imaginative little girls. 138. Church. 139. Sunshine. 140. Hot baths with a good book. 141. Spaghetti faces. 141. Hearing my girls pretend and imagine.Here are my little conductors. 142.  Dinners at my mom's and 143. Grandma Julia's passed on recipes.

117. Early morning Saturday departures with two of my favorite girls for gymnastics. 118. My husband's homemade egg mcmuffins. 119. That my girls get to go to their cousin's birthday parties. 120. My beautiful, smiley, busy, growing, best hugger, curly headed nephew who turned two today.  I pray for a lifetime full of birthdays, fun, happiness and love for him.  He melts me! 121. Sweet Mattingly...so big!    122. Jet is SO curious - he looks at everything in wonder! 123. My brother who has turned out to be the best dad! Jet and his Grandpa Bartnik!  124. Wonder of little kids. 125. My awesome sister in law.  Love her. 126. Cupcake faces. 127. My dad and his grandson. 128. Cousin Hugs. 129. Mattingly stuffing her face. 130. A clean house. 131. Surfing girls (who changed their names to Alana, Bethany and Ella for the night!) 132. Saturday nights with my family, a fire, new recipe (fajitas) and just being.