First the cookies went into the oven, and while they waited on those they unwrapped about 50 kisses and placed them on top of pretzels. While those melted, they decorated cookies. After the kisses were warm enough, they squashed m&ms into the top. Now those are in the fridge, and they're skewering marshmallows, dipping them in chocolate, and smothering them in sprinkles and m&ms. I've done nothing except to turn on the oven, and open the oven and microwave doors.
I see smears of chocolate all over the sprinkles container. I see pieces of foil from the kisses all over the floor. I see chocolate on faces and fingers. And I've said yes to each and every request of, "Can I eat this?"
And it feels good.
It's wonderful not to say NO over and over. It's wonderful to see them working together, sharing, saying please and thank you, and taking turns without a single reminder from me. It's wonderful that I'm not doing anything other than sitting back, and letting go. I'm listening to lots of, "Thank you for letting us do all of this by ourselves!" and "This is the best day I've ever had at home, but I wish Daddy was here too!" and "This one is the best one for Santa!" and "Mmmm, dis is GOOD!" and "Dis is for Pixie. Pixie likes sprinkles on him cookies!"
I don't have my camera, which at once makes me both disappointed and glad. I remember things through taking pictures. Framing a picture through the lens also frames a memory in my mind.
But, today, I have no distractions. I don't need the camera. I have everything I need, coated in chocolate and sprinkled with smiles.
