40 Years Later - Free Spirts

For the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, I decided that the boys and I would tie dye some t-shirts (and I thought it would be a fun craft).

So we tied:

And then we dyed:

And then we rinsed:
And then hung the shirts up to dry:
While they were drying, I took my guys outside to play. It was warm, but having just filled the pool this morning, I figured the water was still cold. In the spirit of the free wheelin' 60's, my children decided to jump in with their clothes on. (In all fairness, Finn just jumped in before I could stop him - after that, I told Elwood it was okay).

What I didn't catch on film was the two of them dancing naked to Nancy Sinatra "These Boots Were Made For Walking" right after we came in. I was laughing too hard to find the camera.

Fortunate Sons

I want my boys to be "Fortunate Sons".

While I take that phrase from the Creedence Clearwater Revival song, my children are not those of privilege or influence. If they were, I would not encourage them to abandon their responsibilities - to God, to country or to family. But do I want them to face war - no. And the point of that song was, the fortunate ones did not face Vietnam. They were not sent off to face war and, in many cases, die.

I am very grateful to the men and women who have and do serve our country in the military. I am extremely proud of my brothers - Patrick, who is on his way to Iraq, and Dominic, who just volunteered to serve another year in Afghanistan. This is by no means meant as disrespect. It is simply my wish for the future of my children.

I want my boys to grow up in a world where war and death and destruction is not the opening story on the news every day.

I want them to grow up in a world were peace reigns, understanding permeates and compassion is what guides people.

I want them to grow up in a country where people of different opinions can come together and discuss their differences with out disrespect, name calling and pepper spray.

I want them to be part of a generation that will understand we all have common ground from which we can build a better life for everyone - in a fair and just way.

I want them to know that even though there are bad things in this world, good will win out.

I want so much for them. And I hope they will want these things for themselves and the others in their lives.

A mother can dream, can't she?

Happy Anniversary

When I met my husband, I was 22, so I can't claim to have been a kid. But I was very naive.I had only started to sow the few wild oats I had about 5 months before I met him. He was the first man who had ever made me feel smart and beautiful and worth something - and who I felt the same way about. I fell in love with him in 2 months and then spent another 4 years, through good and bad and all the stupid stuff in between, waiting for him to decided that not only did he love me but that he wanted to make our relationship "official".

That sounds bad. I've never questioned his love for me. Even during our worst fights, I never questioned it. What I questioned was his patience for me and mine for him. There is no lack of love - but patience sometimes runs so thin it's see-through and brittle as spun sugar.

Eight years ago today, we decided love would get us through when patience might not. My wedding is the 3rd happiest day of my life (behind the boys births), but it was absolutely the most fun. My favorite memory is when I walked up the steps to the gazebo where we were married - already crying - and Todd took my hand and told me "It's okay. I love you."

Happy Anniversary Todd. We don't always see eye to eye and our patience runs thin and our styles may be different, but it's okay. We're good goats.

I Guess I Deserved That

Last night was a bad night. The kids were wound up and over tired. I was cranky. Todd had to go back to work after bath time. Nothing seemed to go right. I felt like all I did was yell at Elwood all night. He didn't end up going to sleep until after 10:30 and by then I was upset because I had taught him a new phrase - "I can't take it anymore". I went to bed with him cuddled up next to me and wet tears on my cheeks.

So tonight, I made an effort to be Non-Yelling Mommy. I made a special dinner - breakfast actually. French toast and strawberries - what kid could complain. Things were going so much smoother.

So I said to Elwood "We're going to have a better night tonight, right?"

He replied "Yep. Where are you going?"

My husband almost choked on his french toast he was laughing so hard.

Nothing Special About Today

It wasn't a holiday.  It wasn't any one's birthday.  It didn't mark the beginning or the end of anything.  Just a normal, everyday Sunday.  But, somehow, when my husband and my boys are with me and we are playing and there is no work, no trouble, no one complaining, it seems extra special.  

We took the boys to the park for picnic of Happy Meals and then playing at the playground.  It was a little chilly in the shade (odd for the middle of May), so our picnic was a little rushed.  But once we got out into the sunshine on the playground, it was beautiful.  We were the only ones there and all you could hear were the sounds of our laughter. We slid, we climbed, we swung, we ran.  The boys allergies had their noses running, but for that hour, that was the only problem. For that hour, we weren't worried about money or jobs or cleaning.  We just had to make sure no one fell off the slide.  We just had to make sure we pushed the swings high enough.  

There aren't enough moments in life like that.  That's one of the reasons I'm resistant to change our bedtime routine.  I lie in bed with the boys every night as they go to sleep.  It's not the best way of doing things and half the time, they don't leave our bed.  But for that little time, everyday, it's just me and them watching a movie or reading a book.  I want more time like that with them.  More cuddling in bed.  More days in the park.  More family time.  

Finn's a Quick One

Elwood & Finn - BMOC

BMOC = Big Men on Campus

That's how I saw my two little guys last Friday as we participated in our local Relay for Life.  

As we walked the thru the park, kids and adults were yelling "Hello" to Elwood and Finn.  Little girls ran up and hugged them.  It was crazy.  

Even though I've lived here for 8 years (5 full time), I'm always going to be that girl from St. Louis that Todd married.  But my boys, they're natives.  They have friends, even at this stage in their young lives.  People know me as their mom - which I don't mind at all.

My husband made friends in this tiny town that he has carried with him throughout his life.  They are good men who married wonderful women who I am proud to now call my friends.  They are people he can count on, be it to fix something around the house or to support him in difficult times.  I hope that growing up in this small town, this is what my boys have to look forward to.