LOVE

So, before Carter's croup so rudely interrupted my Valentine's bliss, I was mentally composing a post about all the things I love. And it was a good one. So clever and witty it would have made you laugh until a little pee came out. But you'll have to take my word on it, because I can literally remember none of it. Which means it probably wasn't really THAT good.

But I still wanted to write a little about the things I love. So, here goes "back up post that won't be as good as the one you were expecting."

THINGS THAT I LOVE

1. I love Snickers candy bars. And Oreos. And ice cream. I could eat them all every day if I allowed myself to have them in the house.

2. I love my iPhone. I never knew I needed one until I got one last year and now I fear I would be lost without it.

3. I love getting lost in a really good book. There are few things better in life.

4. I love watching basketball. I love playing basketball. I love March Madness.

5. I love quotable movies. I love that my siblings love that, too.

6. I love long, HOT showers and long HOT baths.

7. I love scoring great deals. And I love how that is becoming easier all the time with blogs, Facebook and the like.

8. I love piano music. I love listening to someone who is an amazing pianist. I love learning a song well enough that I can pretend I am an amazing pianist. And sometimes Alicia Keys, singing my little heart out.

9. I love a good juicy steak. And shrimp. And sushi.

10. I love the sunshine.

11. I love the number 11.

12. I love that my kids look alike. I love that they all have various shades of green (or blue) eyes like their daddy.

13. I love that my kids are all so different from one another. It makes me appreciate their little personalities so much more.

14. I love that my kids have each other. I always knew I wanted a big family, but sometimes I wonder what on earth I am doing with so many kids. Until I see them interacting, and laughing, and playing together. Then I remember.

15. I love that Jeff will watch The Bachelor with me and give his commentary on all the girls. And I love to remind him that he will probably never be chosen to BE the Bachelor because he has a wife and (almost) 5 kids.

16. I love that I'm so close with my brothers and sisters. I love that we can live far apart but still be such a huge part of each other's lives. I love knowing that they will always be there for me, and vice versa.

17. I love watching my baby grow up. I love watching him walk around the house naked or in only a diaper. He somehow manages to push both his belly and his behind out when he walks (presumably for balance), and it always makes me laugh. I love how he is getting so much better at walking and will wander in and out of every room in the house.

18. I love hearing my kids tell me they love me. I doubt I will ever get tired of it.

19. I love good friends who have helped me through so many challenges in life. I love knowing that even though time and distance may separate us, we will always stay close.

20. I love my life. I really do. Of course it's not perfect, and there are times I really wish I were someone (or somewhere) else, but mostly I feel so fortunate to have a life filled with satisfaction, enjoyment and, most of all, LOVE.