The moments your kids make you cry.

And not because they've done something they shouldn't have, or aren't listening. And not from the times they break something of yours that you had held dear. It isn't from the times when everything is going wrong, or even when its going right. I'm talking about the moments where they just catch you off guard, and it really is enough to bring you to tears. Those surprise few seconds where you can't think of anything to do, but to cry.

Last night was one of those for me. We'd gone to a parade last night with my sister in law Sara, my niece Kristen, and my nephew Kyle. And we'd gotten home a little past the kids bed time. But they'd had SO much fun. It was the very first parade EVER for the twins and for Kristen, and Kaleb LOVED it. He danced to the music, he waved, he clapped, and just really enjoyed i. Kendyl loved watching all the girls go by on the floats in their pretty dresses! I think she waved to each and every one of them, and she LOVED the fact that the popular thing to give out seemed to be beads this year. (to which of course my oh so funny husband said "but no one even had to lift their shirt to get those!) The bigger boys loved the fact that we were at the VERY beginning of the parade and WE. GOT. SO. MUCH. CANDY!!! It didn't take them very long to remember the fun of a parade. We also had the teachers aide from the kindergarten class the boys were in sitting with us. It was fun! And at one point there was a discussion on how parades are kind of the opposite of Halloween. You don't dress up, THEY do, and YOU don't give candy, THEY do. You get to sit there, and all the people dressed up come to YOU, and then they give the goodies out!! It was interesting to think about!!

BUT! None of those moments were ones that brought tears to my eyes. It was a moment last night after we were home that had me in tears. We'd gotten the bigger two boys to bed, and were working on the twins. I got them changed, and all ready for bed, and the only thing left for them to do was to go give Daddy a hug goodnight, and they could be tucked in. Kaleb went first, and hugged Daddy, then got down so Kendyl could have her turn. After Kendyl was done I told them "ok, lets go tuck you in." And that folks, was the point at which mommy started to cry. Right along with Kaleb. As soon as the word IN left my mouth, Kaleb's chin started to quiver. And his eyes became red, and filled with tears. And he looks at me trying to choke back the tears and talk to mommy like a big boy. But as the words left his mouth the tears caught up, and he choked back the sob and said something that I heard, and Todd didn't. So I asked him to say it again. At this point tears are streaming down my face. He looked at me, and said louder and of course with more emotion "But I just miss daddy so much." Out of the mouths of babes. It wasn't prompted. It wasn't provoked. It was Kaleb, being Kaleb, letting us know that he's been missing his daddy so much lately. Todd asked him if he needed another hug, and Kaleb went over and crawled all the way up on daddy, layed his little head down and snuggled in for some loving from daddy. Some time for just daddy and Kaleb to catch up, and help to make Kaleb feel a little better.

Those moments are the ones. Those moments where they catch you off guard with their raw emotion, and little personalities. It just amazes me that at not even three years old Kaleb has more emotion than most grown men do. All of my kids are that way. They feel what they feel and they aren't afraid to express it! And I'm sure the moments like this will keep coming over the years, and will probably have me in tears yet again. Its just so special to see. Just so special to know that these four little amazing people love us so much that they MISS us when they don't see us as much as they think they should.

I love being a mommy.