The Daily Hailey

I’m not sure if anyone likes these little anecdotes but I just can’t resist sharing them! This way, I can keep them forever. I know you weren’t there, witnessing it personally, but I hope you can appreciate the mental picture, or the simple amusement.

***

Dekker walked to school on his own yesterday. I questioned whether or not that was “mean,” being that the snow was flying and it all just seemed unfamiliar. But it really wasn’t too cold. I walked all the time as a kid, even in winter. Turns out, he was totally gung ho for it! His fall jacket is fleece lined, as are his splash pants. We pulled out toques and mitts a day or two earlier. He was ready! He headed out happily in the morning. The rest of us went about our day in sweats, tucked away in the warm house.

With Dekker walking to and from school these days, he usually gets home around the same time. I checked the time at one point, and it was a few minutes after that time already. I checked out the front window and didn’t see him. I walked to the back of the house and looked out a back window to see if he was just a ways off. I still didn’t see him. Hmmm. 🤔

In that moment, I heard the little kids cry from the basement, “Dekker is home!” They were downstairs with Brady while he was framing, and apparently Dekker was peeking in the window, waving at them all! I just hadn’t seen him right up against the house when I originally checked out the front window! I heard him clunk onto the wooden front step, and went to greet him at the door. But he didn’t come in. I waited a few seconds, and I kept hearing clunking, but he wasn’t coming in! The door was unlocked. I couldn’t figure it out, so I finally opened the front door to check.

And there he was. In true Dekker fashion. Watering the flowers on our front step.

In the snow.

Isn’t he the sweetest thing?? All foggy and toothless and ADORABLE! He was all wet and red in the face. But he was smiling happily, hauling the full watering can over to our flower pot filled with snow-covered flowers. He chirped a happy “Hi Mom!” when he saw me, but finished up his task before coming in and hugging me.

MAN I love my kids. We should all be as thoughtful as Dekker. Thoughtful enough to water someones flowers, even if they’re probably going to die the next day 🙂