Grace in small things: In which Zo wears 10 costumes at once edition (December 7, 2016)

1. Oh my gosh, self-selected costumes are cracking me up this week...
2. Luke refusing to strap into his car seat until he gets a "strap in hug." Also it can't be quick...if I try to make it quick because were late getting somewhere I get scolded for not hugging long enough...
3. Kids making a terrific mess in Zo's room, and explaining it by the fact they were playing "Terror Kitties." Where the heck did Terror Kitties come from, lol?
4. Floating orange lights in the distant sky out our living room window this evening...like luminarias floating up into the sky...beautiful...I've never seen anything like it...
5. I've been singing the kids Christmas carols in the evening, but Zo especially is not OK with the traditional carols, instead I have to make them hippo (or other) animal carols by subbing hippos in where I can. For example: "Hark the herald, hippos sing, glory to the newborn king. Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and hippos reconciled." I try to sing them normal and Zo says, "No Mommy, that's too boring." I love singing Christmas carols to the kids, even hippo versions, because one of my clearest childhood memories is singing them to my newborn baby brother, rocking him in the rocking chair...

Great day.

XOXO