My 10 favorite things:

I've committed to come up with something to blog about this weekend and the writers block is in full force.  The idea well is dry.  So, I'll go with the only thing that's floating around up there.  A list of some of my current favorite things (in no particular order):

1.  The first bite - When you're really hungry and you've just sat down in front of one of your favorite meals.  That first bite it like the dam breaking and the flavors and memories come flooding in.  Recently, it's been the first grape.  The first one is always the juiciest and best tasting.  Every bite after that is just a little less pleasurable.  In just about everything, I've forced myself to appreciate the first bite more. 

2.  Bailey's laugh -  It's hard to get to sometimes, but when I do something that makes her laugh that little girl laugh, it makes my heart melt.  She's got the fake polite laugh down pat.  That one makes me happy but doesn't make anything melt.  I get it when she tells an unintentional joke and she realizes that she made everyone else laugh.  I get it when I play one of her hand-slap games with her.  I'm sure I'd get it if she got a pony.  She's not getting a pony.

3.  8:30 PM - Actually, I dread 8:29 pm.  I've been waiting till this time to take the dog for a walk.  It's too hot to do it earlier with the kids.  So, I wait till the kids are asleep and the sun starts to set.  I get some alone time with my dog and my iPod.  The neighbors are out.  There's usually a breeze.  There's no one telling me what to do or where to walk or anything.  I end up loving my walks.

4.  My iPod touch - It was the only thing I really WANTED for Christmas.  But, no way I was getting that.  It was pre-kids but we were still saving money.  I was able to scrounge up enough that it was buyable.  One of my favorite purchases since I bought my first Tivo.  Very few things in life live up to expectations.  The iPod runs circles around my expectations.  I have any song you would want on it.  Something like 5000 songs.  I have tons of pictures and it's like having a photo album ready and waiting to show whoever ask.  I have a couple of movies on there for the kids to watch in those tense moments.  I have more than enough games to keep an army occupied.  The built in speaker rocks when I'm doing some mundane task at work and can't keep earphones in.  I hook it to my car radio and listen to the songs I want to all day.  I download podcast and catch up on radio shows I no longer get now that I've gotten rid of my XM Radio.  A year later and it's attached to me. 

5.  Dalton's accomplishments - My son had some issues when he came to us.  Still does.  Probably always will.  But, developmentally, he wasn't up to speed.  We've been working non-stop to get him up to speed.  His frustration and anger usually delays that progress we're looking for.  But, recently, he's getting it.  He had to teach himself to do things and now he's learning the right way.  The look on his face when he finally "gets it" is the definition of pure pride.  Tied his shoe (for real) and did a good job.  buttoned all the buttons on his shirt without struggling.  Learned to swim.  Caught the baseball in the glove.  All things that gave him that look.  It's enough for me to look past the frustration.

6.  My guitar - I've had my guitar for over ten years now.  For the past nine, I haven't learned to play it any better than I did back when I first got it.  I don't pick it up enough and I've taken my....ahem....natural talent for it as far as it's going to go.  I should take lessons.  But, I'm comfortable with picking it up when I need to.  I'm good enough that I can do what I know I can do.  I have my own songs that I can play.  It's like an old friend that's there when I need him.  My kids think I'm Eddie Van Halen.  I'm actually more like Teddy Van Halen, his less-talked-about brother that they don't let out of the room much.  But, I love to play it.  I love to have my kids sing along.

7.  Nickelodeon - This is a love/hate relationship.  I get sick of Nickelodeon sometimes.  But, they do something that Disney and the other kids TV channels dont - they include jokes for adults.  iCarly is a wonderful show and I like every character on it.  I want to hang out with the cast.  I'd even try to bring my kids with me.  Spongebob makes me laugh.  There are 10 other shows on there that are pretty entertaining.  And, it keeps my kids quiet and still for three to thirty minutes. 

8.  Texas country music - Blame my recent love affair with my favorite kind of music on two things.  My iPod and the free concerts they're running this summer with all my favorite musicians.  I feel like I've been let in on a secret that few people know about.  I'm lucky that I like the music that is local.  I like it more than any other genre of music.  So much so that I have a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that everybody doesn't like it. 

9.  Watching my dad with my kids - We're lucky to have my dad with us today.  I didn't know if he'd get to see his grandkids at all.  I enjoy his joy of watching the kids.  I enjoy his joy of watching Lori and I with the kids.  It really has been a gift when we're all together.  The same is true with my mother and Lori's parents.  But, the time with my dad is bonus time. 

10.  Sudoku - I don't want to love it anymore.  But I can't stop it.  Somebody make me stop it.