Surprise!

I don't know about your kids (if you have any), but mine don't always jump when I ask them to get dressed in the morning, or to put their jammies on at bedtime, or to come to get their hair and teeth brushed... Don't get me wrong, they're great kids and they listen fairly well and most mornings my 6 year-old is fully dressed by the time she leaves her room and my 3-year old is always eager to be mommy's little helper, but still, sometimes it's just tough to get them going!  One thing seems to get them moving though... now and then just telling them to  "Surprise daddy (or mommy)!" and they're off and running, hiding, giggling, moving as fast as they can to get ready - and no peeking not to ruin the surprise!  

Tonight, the surprise card still seemed to work despite our household being a sickly one for the past week... flus, chest infections, fevers, laryngitis, much coughing and more fevers... I needed some help to get them going tonight because I've been hit with it too and haven't been feeling so great the past few days!!  This morning it was the baby's turn... we're still praying that at least daddy stays healthy!  It's never a fun thing to be sick.  And it's especially difficult to feel so helpless while the kids are sick.  We've had our share of sleepless nights with sick kids the past month...  Needless to say, it was nice to see the girls have enough energy to want to surprise mommy with their jammies tonight!  Here's to a healthier month to come so that we can get out to play in the snow more!