Just a little bit excited...

Today has a certain air of awesomeness about it. Why I hear you ask? Because as of about 2pm this afternoon, both kids will be having a two night stay at their grandparents house!!!!!!!! I am going to be child free until Friday!!!!! WOOOOOT!!!! Don't get me wrong, I love my children to bits but by golly, sometimes I just need a break from them! So with the countdown to their imminent departure well and truly under way, I have convinced Mat to take the day off work and we shall spend the next six hours being completely present with the kids (obviously not me right now, I'm busy blogging while Mat is dealing with the breakfast dramas and Elliott's tantrum over God knows what). So, in light of today's exciting feel, I think we could all do with a reminder of why it is awesome to have children...

• There are few things in this world more peaceful than watching your little one sleep. It does wonders at refilling your love jug! I really love tucking the kids in before I go to bed and giving them kisses and whispering sweet nothings in their ears. Sometimes they smile in their sleep when I do this and that makes me feel really great.  
• The artwork! I love covering my pantry in the kids art work. It is one of a kind and the memories attached to the creation of it are just awesome. 
• When your children say "I love you". Melts me heart. 
• A totally unsolicited hug from your little one that comes out of nowhere. They are the best!
• When you look like utter rubbish and have to get something from the shops, you just take your kids with you and they serve as a legitimate excuse as to why you put no effort whatsoever into your appearance that day.
• The snuggles and giggles you have as a family when your little ones crawl into your bed in the morning.
• Dancing! The kids and I love putting some music on and cutting a rug together for the whole CD. It is so much fun!
• Seeing and hearing how much other people love your children. It makes me so proud when people say great things to or about my kids. 
• They are great excuses for getting out of things you don't want to go to. Just utter the words "fever and diarohea" and no one will want you gracing them with your presence.   
• I love reading stories to the kids in such a fun and animated way that we all get lost in the book. 
• Baking!! This is a big favourite of mine. The kids pull their "cooking chairs" up the bench and the fun begins. The dog loves this one too because he cleans up all the spills on the floor as we go. 
• The awesome calm that blankets our household when the kids play nicely together. 
• Sand and water play. This is so much fun and amuses them for hours. I especially love the way they "cook" things and I spend the whole time "tasting" their sand creations to their utter delight. 
• I love praising my children and seeing how wonderful that makes them feel. 
• It is amazing how much kids can make you slow down and smell the roses. The world is new and fascinating to them and as you explain all the little things, you realise how wonderful the world really is. 
• The love between the kids and the way they seem to have their own language with each other. 

Sophie and Elliott having a moment in the car. So sweet!