If You Chance To Meet A Frown

The outside drizzliness reflected my inside gloominess. The day dragged on and on. Boredom and such. What do you do when you feel sad and it's raining? Ah, the distraction served by Consumerism. I took Talmage to Target and said, waving my hand airily, "Buy anything you want." He certainly wasn't feeling sad as he clutched his Matchbox cars, jiggity-jog, all the way home. My glumness remained, though.

Then, soon after arriving home, H. and H. called, one after the other, and they helped break the spell. You can't put a price on a good chat. Especially on rainy days. Heid - you're right, that talk helped ("Finding Joy in the Journey"); and I hear, Heather, you found your cat. And your mittens. That makes me smile.
Other things that make me smile:

Talmage Gems, like:
"Helicockter" and "Torque-a-tee-a" (tortilla)
"May I have some more [insert requested object]? ... Puh-leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese?"
"It's time for school!"
"Mommy, I'm so proud of you!" (when I go on the potty).

Sydney Gems, like:
Enthusiastically raising both hands above her head and giving her toothy grin
The Razz Game, back and forth
When she crawls on her hands and knees
Going to bed every night at 7:30 without ever crying

Briton Gems, like:
Right now he's wearing the same green/blue tartan plaid pajamas that he wore in high school
He gets excited when the Lego magazine comes
His nightly "Fix" (Adam's PB and Bread/Tortilla and milk).