The other day I went outside and took a walk around my backyard with Chloe. Joel was home and had opened the kitchen window up wide to let the cool crisp air in to fill our home with a little bit of spring. As I walked around, calming my sweet baby girl, I heard some of the most precious sounds. It made me think of what I really hear everyday.
At my home and at any given moment you might hear music thumping and kids giggling as we dance throughout the house.
You'll hear mommy make a fool out of herself as she sings at the top of her lungs.
Screams and shrieks as Mikayla and Hunter fight off the evil dragon (the mobile on the baby's swing) with their swords (foam noodles).
You may not think this is something that you could hear, but I promise that imagination does have a sound. It sounds like the sweet words of an innocent five year old as she tells a story or plans how to capture a fly. It's the various voices a little three year old gives to the mommy and baby as he pretends that his little bunnies are in fact very real.
Laughter. The deep, uncontrollable kind that comes from tickle fights. Laughter mixed with shrieks from being thrown in the air or twirled around. Giggles. Lots and lots of giggles. And yes, even the devious kind as the kids run secretively to their room.
Cheers from when they finally capture the fly and now they can finally have the pet fly they've always wanted.
Then, one of my favorites, the voice of my husband as he tells them he loves them. His voice as he reads them a story. His voice. Full of comfort and safety.
These sounds might not seem like much to most people, in fact they would probably run in the opposite direction as fast as they could. But to me, there isn't a song or lyric that could even come close to rivaling the symphony of sounds that makes my house a home.
Yes, of course there is whining, crying, and even yelling as we try to figure out this crazy life...but at the end of the day, the laughter and the sweet noises are all that remain as I try to lock them away for forever in my memory...even though I know it won't work...I still try.
