sounds of the season

I must say that I am still recovering from the 12 hour post-Christmas clean up on the day after. And the three hours worth of returns on Sunday (if this tells you anything, I did not have to wait in any lines). I have mentioned before that I am a returning fool. I tend to overspend and it makes me feel better to be putting money back in the bank instead of taking it out. It was well worth the eight stops that I had to make. Other than that, I have been "tuning in" to the things going on around me and thought I would share some sounds of the season.

Some of the best sounds of the season

(all following Christmas) are:

* the sounds of happy kids playing with toys

* the lack of arguing, whining and fighting

* the TV turned up as I take down, put up, and set out the trash

while the happy kids play in their own rooms

* "Would you like cash back or would you like

me to credit this back to your account?"

Some sounds that I have heard since the day I started Christmas break - most have become almost a daily occurence with the amount of company

and the frequency of having guests are:

* the dishwasher running

* the washer and dryer because I can't stand to see it

piling up and Ashlyn cannot wear just one outfit a day

* hot bath water

(yesterday I took four - it is a good escape)

* the swish of the broom and scrape of the dustpan

* rustling in the kitchen

Some new sounds:

* Trey's iPod blaring

* Clayson texting (there is a limit on this)

* Ashlyn talking to her new baby "Mistletoe"

Some fun sounds:

* my friends and I laughing at b-i-n-g-o and

dinner at the Roadhouse

* ping-pong challenges (even

if is set up in the dining room)

* an adventure to the American Girl store where

apparently the party never ends

* laughter in general - me, the kids, Jared, family and friends

A sweet sound:

*Ashlyn's Uncle Craig asked her if she knew what a heart was.

She told him that yes, it's what you love with. It's what I love my daddy with.

I am so sad to see this two week vacation coming to a close. We have had so much fun with Christmas, with our families, with our friends and with each other.

Sounding off...