It's the Small Things

I like the big moments in life as much as anyone, I guess, but the small things are where my happiness truly lies. Here are some from today.
1. Things that make me smile #1: going into the master bath and seeing a random tiara left there. I guess princesses have to potty on the go, too.
2.  While I like a few of the newer holiday songs, I'm really a seasonal traditionalist. It's not really Christmas music to me unless it includes Nat and Bing.
3. Things that make me smile #2: Watching two kids dressed (for no good reason) as Harry Potter and Princess Jasmine decorate the Christmas tree.
4. I love NPR, and on a short trip to return library books it taught me that 10% of a dog's brain is dedicated to smelling. Ethan believes that 50% is dedicated to eating.
5. Neither nail polish remover nor lacquer thinner gets Super Glue off your hands. On the upside, I've had so many toxic chemicals on my skin today that I think I have a great excuse for any questionable behavior in the next week or two.
6. When you forget to buy candy for the kids' Advent calendar, that collection of Halloween candy leftovers goes from being a giant bag 'o tooth decay to a blessing that prevents one more trip to the store.
7. Jerome has had to correct Katie's pronunciation multiple times today...but I secretly like "ormanents" better.
8. Ethan is learning to cook a meal all by himself and has committed to cooking one night per week. Seeing the kids learn new skills makes me feel satisfaction on a level I never knew existed.
9. We have a color theme for our Christmas tree but it's largely a sentimental collection of ornaments. It reflects our lives, I think: some organization and forethought and a whole lot of holding onto what we love.