Pling!

Hear that? That's the sound of my boys, tugging on my heartstrings. They've been doing it since day one, but lately they've gotten especially good at reminding me that I have the most amazing treasures with me every day.

Aaron gets me every time with his quivering lower lip stuck out like a porch, his desire to snuggle with me and be with me and be held by me, his craning neck trying to find me in a room, his crying as soon as he hears me walk in the nursery building at church (to pick him up), and now his precious, "Ma-ma, ma-ma" or "Da-da."

Noah also has the sweetest heart, and now that he can talk so well, he's lavishing me with these gems...

Coming in from playing in the other room: "I want to play in here now, because I missed you very much."

Monday morning when I walked in the room to wake him up, "Where's Daddy? I miss him. I want to play with him."

During his bedtime prayer after Memorial Day weekend, "Thank you for Mommy, and Daddy, and Aaron, and Daniel-Wesley, and Uncle Dave, and Aunt 'tina, and Aunt Tara, and Uncle John, and Emily, and Julia, and Claire, and Lily Kate, and that's all."

Last night at dinner and again today at lunch, "I don't want to eat. I just want to go straight to bed." (After which we walk upstairs and he goes to bed! Amazing.)

Pulling on Josh's finger, "Daddy come play with me and Mack (the truck)."

At various times when he's wanting to be held: "Can you take care of me?" And once even, "Can you love me?" (Don't worry, I tell him I love him all the time.)

After watching 2 minutes near the end of Casablanca, "Why is she sad? I not sad. I'm happy. Mommy's happy. Daddy's happy. Aaron's happy. Daniel and Wesley are happy. This is bad. Let's turn it off."

Over lunch: "I like Daddy. I like Mommy. I like Aaron!"

And just about every other day, "Happy Mother's Day!" (with a big smile) just for good measure.

These kids take sunshine in my life to a whole new level.