Skater boy

Last week while we were playing outside, C spotted a boy about ten years old rolling by on his skateboard.  Helmet on his head, trash bag in his hand, obviously on his way to the dumpster.  C wasted no time asking for a ride on the skateboard, which the boy happily gave him.  He then went a step forward.  A huge leap forward rather, and promised C his very own skateboard.  So what if it was his old, crappy one that was headed for the trash anyway.  I still thought it was nice of him.  He went all the way back to his house and awhile later came back with C's brand "new" board.  Of course, the sad shape it's in has only sparked hubby's desire to get C an actual new skateboard.  Hubby claims to have been a skater in his younger days.  He was at least enough of one to show C a couple of tricks.  And even though every time I think skater I picture boys with their boxers hanging out of their pants and chains on their wallets...

...for the time being, my little skater is as cute as can be!

Easter adorableness

Fun with the hubs cont...

We went to the aquarium once on a weekend and Daddy just about lost it.  He can't stand crowds.  So, we thought we'd try it again the week that he was back.  C and I go all the time on weekdays and it is sooo much better than going on a weekend.  While we were standing in the long line waiting to get in and glancing around at the throngs of people, we suddenly looked at each other and groaned, "Spring break."  C was easily swayed to check out this "shark submarine" instead.

 Touring the inside of the submarine.

(self-timer awesomeness, yeah baby!)

 After the submarine, C very badly wanted to ride on the dragon paddle boat that we did last summer.  Hubby obliged, but then complained the whole time.  Something about getting wet (we were not prepared for the change in weather) and cold (C and I had sweatshirts on, so I didn't really understand this one) and having to do all the work.

 Well, maybe next time hubby should read all the warnings before he agrees to a ride.

"Fast peddling can cause rapid tiring of legs."

There honey, now you know.

More fun with the hubs

Turns out I did take more pictures during hubby's visit.  But, before he left he moved all my pics from the C drive to the D drive, and I am pretty computer illiterate.  So, I just found them.  Anyway, back in KS we had a little tradition going of riding the Easter train every year.  I actually found one up here so we were able to keep the tradition alive!

 Warning: C's Easter basket will creep you out.

One night I caught Batman staring at me while I was watching tv on the couch.  Now he stays in the playroom.  In the closet.  In a locked box. ;)

All good

I did a terrible job taking pictures while hubby was home. 

We did a lot of fun things, the only one which I have proof of being this trip to Chuck E Cheese's.

My parents are in town for a visit, hubby will be home for good in just TWO weeks, and I just received new pictures of our lil' peanut from his 8 month check-up. 

It's all good.

Beautiful Day

Moments I'll remember

Don't be mad if I cry

It just hurts so bad sometimes

Because everyday it's sinking in

And I have to say goodbye all over again

You know I bet it feels good to have the weight of this world off your shoulders now

I'm dreaming of the day when I'm finally there with you

Save a place for me...save a place for me

I'll be there soon...I'll be there soon

Save a place for me...save some grace for me

I'll be there soon

I'll be there soon

I have asked the questions why

But I guess the answer's for another time

So instead I'll pray with every tear

And be thankful for the time I had you here

Save a place for me...save a place for me

I'll be there soon...I'll be there soon

Save a place for me...save some grace for me

I'll be there soon

I'll be there soon

One year ago, I stood in a cemetary and listenend to the the soft sounds of a guitar and these words blow around me with the wind. 

I squinted into the sun and tried my hardest to get my heart to agree with the words my pastor spoke.

I wrapped myself in a brightly colored afghan and sank into my husband's arms. 

One year ago, I watched my husband place a tiny urn into the ground. 

Blue. 

The color I imagine his eyes would have been.

One year ago, I buried my baby.

The moment was surreal.  One I never imagined.  One I will remember forever.

Because the pain of that moment has seared me.  Forming a scar that my heart will always catch on when I look back at my life.

Tonight my precious firstborn fell asleep in my arms.  My son, who has been more boy than baby for quite some time now asked me to hold him, rub his back, "stay for just one more minute."  He draped his arm across me and his head rested in the crook of my neck, where I was surprised that it still fit.  I kissed his hair, and rubbed his back, and as his breathing deepened and he became heavy with sleep, I prayed. 

Thank you Lord for this moment.

Thank you for this child.

Thank you for this love.

I don't want my heartache to define my life. 

I want to be branded by moments like this one. 

So that when I look back at my life, I am not just stopped by the scars.  But, I'm able to linger over memories like this, dog eared like a page in a favorite book.  A book I couldn't put down the first time...and was just as good the next. 

F is for friends (maybe one day!)

Our church is really big.  And I've yet to actually meet anyone there.  As mentioned in the last post, my first small group attempt didn't go so well.  But, I'm determined to keep trying.  Not just the whole small group thing, but the making friends thing in general.  Ugh, and they say high school is awkward.  Making friends in adulthood is something I find very difficult.  Ok, maybe that's not true.  I've never had a problem making friends.  I think the past 6 months have been so hard because I have no opportunity to make friends.  No school, no work, no gym.  And I don't know how many more "Hi.  How old are your kids?  Oh?  He's four.  Do you stay home?  Yeah, me too.  Do you all make it out here often?  Maybe we could meet up sometime and let the kids play" conversations I can have at the playground.  Our church has a playgroup.  And after requesting to be added to the email list, I received our first invite.  It was today.  At a playground.  A very big, very popular playground.  And as C and I were walking hand in hand from the car, I knew that today was not going to be a making friends kind of day.  There were kids everywhere, parents everywhere...I have already begun to dread the "playground pickup" (hee, that's what I'm going to start calling that previous conversation I mentioned)  So, walking up to every mom I saw and asking, "Hey, are you here for the Bridgeway playgroup?"  Yep, not appealing.  So, C and I spent the afternoon playing together.  He played with some other kids.  We had a nice picnic lunch.  And we went home.  It was a fun albeit friendless outing.

And now because hubby is missing us something terrible ;)  Here are some pictures for him.

This week is a letter review week for C in school.  I love review weeks because they reassure me that I'm actually teaching him something!  Today we reviewed the letters A-T with a little game.  He had to match each letter with an item that begins with that letter.

 After I took a few pictures I left him alone and told him to tell me when he was done so I could check his work.  He chatted with himself while working and it was too cute.  "M, m, motorcycle!  Motorcycle starts with M.  I didn't even know that!" 

 He got them all right.  Even c-car, k-key, and q-quarter. 

Which I thought might give him some trouble.

He was pretty pleased with himself and more than willing to pose for a picture next to all his hard work.

Ordinary life

Hubby has been getting onto me about updating the blog.  I finally have time.  Due in part to the fact that I put my child to bed at 6:45.  That's right, I will do crazy things to preserve my sanity.  ;)  Really, he had a rough time during his gymnastics class, made many more bad choices on the way home and in the grocery store and earned himself an early bedtime.  One of those "man, if I wasn't sane...I'd be crazy" kind of nights.  It's not really a reflection of how our days have been going lately though.  Things have been good.  We tried a new small group out at church.  They said "children welcome" which I thought meant childcare will be provided.  But, what it really meant was "you are welcome to bring your four year old son and leave him in the company of three preteen boys to play video games for two hours."  Me thinks we need to find a new small group.  Spent a gorgeous afternoon at the park on Monday.  Thought I had made a new friend.  Went to get her number and she said, "Yeah, I didn't really follow up with the last gal I exchanged numbers with.  I just never called her...her son was kind of 'wild'."  Ha!  See, I said "thought" I made a new friend, but something tells me we may not be a good match.  Other than that, we've just been living life.  Nothing out of the ordinary, but nothing I would want to live without!

A little bible story enactment during school time.

 As you can see, we enforce a strict dress code around here.

 My new spring/summer wreath!

 Baking on a rainy day.  Banana chocolate chip muffins.  Very yummy.

 I had 2.  C had 4!

 Finally! 

A rainy day that was warm enough for him to play outside with his Batman umbrella. 

He was excited.

 Another rainy day activity. 

 After ten minutes of playing this game, I had to get a picture.  I want to remember the silly things my four year old thought were so much fun!

 We are getting so close to having hubby home for good!  In 8 days he comes home for a week and then we've got less than a month to go until he's home for good.

 Our paper chain used to stretch all the way to the bottom of the banister...now look how short it is! 

Yay!!!