TODAY

Dear Lewis,
Today I wanted to workout.  You wanted to read stories out of the Friend magazine.  You love the look and find games.  I think it is just so that you can use a permanent marker to circle the things you find.
Today I had things I needed to get done.  You kept saying, "But, I want you."
Today we went to playgroup.  You got locked in a closet in the basement.  I couldn't hear you.  When I came looking for you, you were crying and screaming and scared.
Today my heart broke when I found you like that.  I picked you up and held you tight to me and walked out of playgroup.  I listened to you sniffle the whole way home.
Today Daddy told you that it happens.  It happened to him.  I guess it is a rite of passage in childhood.  It helped you to feel better.
Today you fell asleep in my arms for the first time in a long time.  I didn't lay you down like I normally would have, so I could get things done.  I held you.  I watched your face relax as you fell into a deeper sleep.  I watched your sweet lips pucker.  I tried to hold you as tight as I could, hoping that the love from my heart would heal the hurt in yours.
I guess today was a rite of passage for me as a mom too.  It is hard to see you hurt.
Today we had a wrestling match.  You love flying on my feet in the sky.  Like Robin or Batman.
Today we found the baby wrap I used with you as a tiny babe.  You wanted to ride in it again.  We laughed as we pulled your big boy legs into the wrap.  You stayed in it while I vacuumed and then let me dance to John Denver.  You hugged me close the whole time and tapped your tiny fingers on my back.  You would stop every few minutes and look up at me, place your sweet hands on my face and kiss me with your puckered lips.  MELT MY HEART.
Today you took 1000 pictures with my camera.
Today you got to watch a movie with daddy.  Just you two.  Monsters University.
Today you went to daddy's basketball game.  You get so excited.  You love jumping off of the bleachers and running super speedy fast.  You love drinking out of the drinking fountain and love that you are tall enough to do it all by yourself.  
Today was a big day.
Today was full of ups and downs.
Today was full of love.  Kisses.  Hugs.
Today I LOVE YOU.
Today I am grateful for Today.
xox-  Momma

BOYS

BOYS

I LOVE THEM.

I don't always understand them
I do respect them.

MINE ARE:

FUNNY 

CREATIVE 

SILLY
ARTISTIC

SWEET

ENERGETIC

FULL OF ENERGY

WITH MUCH ENERGY

KIND

SMART
CUDDLY

BRAVE

RESPECTFUL

DETERMINED
HARDWORKING
STRONG WILLED
ANGELS
MANLY
WILD
ADVENTUROUS
HONEST 
PASSIONATE
LOVING
TENDER
Mine are all different.
Yet I LOVE THEM ALL DEARLY.
They bring me joy.
They teach me daily.
They show me true love.
They are mine.
I am lucky.

SUPPORT

This morning the boys came and snuggled with me in bed.  My favorite time of day.  I pulled out my iPad and started flipping through Facebook as Lew rubbed my cheek with his hand and Thomas wrapped his arm around me so we were close enough that I could feel his morning breath.  (do you see why it is the favorite part of my day)

On Facebook we saw a picture of my Aunt Cara, that I have always admired with all of my heart, and her sweet daughter Edie that has recently been diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia.  The picture was of their recent hair cuts they had received the night before.  That is right, Cara cut her hair as well, in support of Edie.

Thomas was curious about the word support.  Questions like, "What is support?  How does it show support to cut your hair?  Does cutting her hair make Edie feel all better?"
Very important and tough questions for a 5 year old to understand.  Very important and tough questions for a mom to understand.

Then... he asked the most important question of the morning,  "Can I support her too, mom?"

We walked straight into the bathroom.  Got out the clippers and in SUPPORT of EDIE, both boys cut their hair.
Not because she will see it or even be able to understand.
Not because it will let her go home to be with her family today, like any 2 year old should.
Not because it will take away her pain.
Not because it will even heal her.

We did it because it shows our LOVE and SUPPORT through this hard HARD process.

WE LOVE YOU EDIE and CARA and BARNES FAMILY!  

OUR LIVES

This is just a look into our lives right now.  In our house with a dad that works and a mom that stays home with a five year old kindergartener and a 3 year old lover of the iPad!

Mohawks are a part of our daily conversations here.  They seem to be thought cooler by some in our house.  I will let you decide who!  The conversations usually go like this....
I want a mohawk.
I don't think you have the right hair for it hun.
I want a mohawk.
I am not sure that I like mohawks, we can spike it in the front though so it looks like a mohawk from the front.
I want a real one that is long all the way down my head and short on the sides.
Sorry no mohawks until you are an adult and get to make your own decisions.
So and So has one.
I don't care.
Then someone gets their feelings hurt and usually runs back into the bathroom and comes back out with the best version of a mohawk he could come up with, with the haircut he is given.

This is common and just so happened on this particular day.  This particular day the other son also decided he wanted one as well and so goes my life!  After they came out of the bathroom to flaunt their newly styled locks we of course had to have an impromptu photo shoot.  The kind that takes place by one of the only windows in our house that lets any amount of light in, in the dark overcast city we live in.  The kind that has clutter in he background, from all of our valentines love, and shows exactly how our lives are RIGHT NOW.  I like those kind.  They bring back memories and and make me all nostalgic.
Then the boys each took turns taking pictures of anything and everything.  Which is an even better look into our lives exactly as they are right now.
ENJOY.  I know that I enjoy it.  Even the regular conversations about mohawks.

I call this one:  You've got mail.  

You may look like your dad, but you got my tongue

 Grandma O's lamp 

Ninja

Army men hurt when you step on them

Kicks

Nations # 1 snowiest city.  Top ten worst winters in Erie EVER.  

I am such a good mom

I love little boys

Sorting through the "folder"

Great Grandma Mackey's birds.  I LOVE THEM.

HEAT WAVE

Folks....
The sun was shining bright and beautiful in the sky yesterday.  So bright and beautiful that Lew said his eyes were burning.  The sun doesn't shine much here.
When it came time to pick up Thomas we decided to take full advantage of the sun and we thought it would be fun to walk to pick him up.  We haven't been able to do it in months.
We checked the temperature before we got all dressed up and when I saw that it was 20 degrees outside we.......... jumped with joy that we were having a heat wave!  
Not a normal reaction to that temperature. But to us it felt warm and amazing outside.
Lew noticed all of the different types of snow on our walk.  Splashy.  His favorite because it splashed everywhere.  Crunchy.  The hard icy kind.  Fluffy.  The soft newly fallen stuff that hasn't been stepped in or made dirty.

We enjoyed our walk so much that we stayed outside for another hour and rode scooters around the ice patches in the driveway and threw the football around.
WOW.  Heat waves have a way of lifting ones spirit and making it a good day.  SO lucky to enjoy it with my men.
It looks like spring is on it's way, now we just need the foot of snow on our porch to melt!