This Boy

This is my first born.

My Matthew Moo

or Mister Silly.

My boy who I sent up to put away his Daddy's shoes, who didn't return for a long time.

But surprised me with a made bed and organized closet.

My boy who is the most reliable basement cleaner.

But who is also supremely distractable.

(which, his father reminds me, I cannot fault him for, as he is my child)

And when he doesn't return from a chore for a long time,

might be going the extra mile,

but could just as easily be found in the same state you left him.

Although with some fabulous discovery to tell you about.

"Mom, see this robot I am working on! It has a pincher arm, and a . . ."

And when I say in exhasperation, "Sweetheart, you still don't have your pajamas on?"

His replies, "But Mom, I was just thinking."

My boy who loves to make dinner.

And follow the recipe.

But also delights in dumping everything he can find in the blender and hitting "frappe".

My boy who dreams of flying to Mars,

or driving tanks,

or inventing magical robots,

or being the fastest chopping chef ever.

My most passive boy.

My boy who tries his best to be obedient and follow directions.

Though his curious mind often gets the better of him.

My boy who just moved to his own room.

And when I checked on him the first night found him sound asleep,

with the light on,

and a book under his heavily breathing chest.

My boy who is enamored with "my own" desk,

and loves to sit in his new private space and draw,

but still likes to sleep with me, and snuggle on my lap.

My boy who leads his brothers,

and includes them,

and watches out for them,

(when he remembers).

My boy who said, "Call 911!" (which I did)

during a frantic/hysterical 10 minutes when we thought his youngest brother was lost.

Only to be found sound asleep under a pile of blankets on the family room couch.

Thankfully before the police actually showed up. But not before I had given out his description.

My boy who said our family prayer that evening when the commotion had died down,

and after thanking our Father in Heaven that Joseph was found safe said,

speaking to his Heavenly Father,

"I want to say this about you. You and Jesus,

you are the wonderfullest people we have ever had to be our God."

And when I said my prayers that evening,

I thanked my God,

for him.

Let's Call It A Wash

The boys had skating lessons last night (the ice/hockey kind). It wasn't worth much.

It started when Matthew came home from school and seemed a little tired. Although we had friends over that he loves he sat on the couch curled in my lap (or what's left of it). He told me a little about his day while I rubbed his legs and teased his hair. When I got up to answer the door I returned to find him sound asleep. Then he had no appetite dinner so it was decided he wouldn't go to lessons--he still had to come with me poor kid, but he was just going to sit with me.

When we arrived at skating Joseph had fallen asleep in the car. I went around to his door, gently woke him up, unbuckled him from his car seat, and stood him up in the car. Then I went to retrieve the bag of gear out of the back only to hear a wail and find that Joseph, too sleepy to stand on his own, had fallen face first out of the car. The poor kid was laying head down on the black top with one foot still in the car. Ahhhhh. Luckily he had on his heavy coat with hood, thick gloves, and snow pants and received nary a scratch--can't believe his face didn't show something. Whew.

We pressed on.

We got in the building, grabbed our skates, and realized we had forgot our helmets--no problem, we just borrowed a couple from the skate rental desk. While I was kneeling in front of Will lacing his skates, he was anxious to get on the ice and tried to get up before I was done--I got a toe pick in the knee. Arrrr. Luckily it was my left knee, the right knee had already taken a solid hit earlier in the day from a hammer wielded by a three year old*. I sent Will onto the ice, and then fixed Joseph up. Matthew and I escorted Joseph to his class and then limped our way around the rink to sit and watch for our remaining 25 min. I sat down, said hello to some friends, and then scanned the ice for my own little students. Joseph was with his group, marching along behind orange safety cones, but I couldn't see any orange coat containing Will. After a couple glances around I was just about to tell Matthew to sit tight while I checked the bathrooms when I saw him sitting in the team box with his teacher, crying.

I hurried over. Will had taken a bad fall, and banged his head on the inside of his "too big" hockey helmet.

3 for 3.

His teacher, the main instructor, and another very nice man came over to check on him and assured me if he wanted to sit this one out he could come for a make-up on Thursday. When I mentioned I had another out sick they kindly said he could come too. Then the nice man went and arranged for all three boys to come on Thursday, Joseph would get an extra class (and he can use it). He also made sure I got some extra skate rental tickets to cover our make up class. Everyone was very kind--perhaps it was the lone parent, visibly protruding belly, and three injured children, but I was happy to accept their kindness and ever so grateful. By the time I finished consoling Will and worked out our Thursday return, Joseph's class was about over. I thanked everyone profusely, gathered my three boys, and kept them ever so close to me as we made our way back through the parking lot to the car.

We had one stop to make before heading home. Some friends are moving away to Boston and a little farewell party was happening. We arrived at the party, took in our treats, each of the boys had a little snack, and then got up to play. Ten seconds later I heard the sound of craniums colliding. William was unfazed but Matthew was in tears. I decided it was time to leave.

I hurried home and put everyone in bed before we all spontaneously combusted.

There wasn't much to do besides think of my dear Scarlet O'Hara and wish happy thoughts for the morning. Because "after all . . ."

Today has been okay so far, of course, I am sitting in a doctors office taking a 3 hour blood glucose test while my kids are at school and a neighbors, and I have no phone service. So who knows.

*Joseph and I were putting together some little go carts that needed a couple hits from a rubber mallet. I don't have a rubber mallet, (you?)so I did the "metal hammer over wood" technique. I had the cart balanced upside down between my knees with a long piece of wood laying over the wheels that needed pounding. I let Joseph pound the first wheel a then moved him to the second, "Great job Joseph but go a little easier so you don't hit my knee, okay." Wham--and not onto the wood, the kid has a good arm.

Weekend Harmony

Saturday Morning:

William and Daddy build a marble track, I worked on basting a quilt.

Matthew and Joseph build a couch cushion fort.

Saturday Afternoon:

Enjoying some sport with the Olympics

Sunday Music Time at Church:

I'm in charge of teaching music to the primary children. After showing several pictures of Christ and getting comments like "That's when Jesus was a baby," "That's when Jesus was crucified," and "That's when Jesus was resurrected,"--I held up this picture:

My own three year old hollers out from the front row:

"That's when Jesus was a butterfly!"

Thanks Weekend, it was splendid, can't wait to do it again.

So Very Sweet

The Stroopwafeln

I have mentioned these before. My aunt gave some to me. My hubby also brings them back from his adventures over seas whenever he can. They were the first of many European treats to find their way to my door, or mouth rather, due to his travels. For the first six months or so of last year he was spending a good amount of time in Paris. I know, Paris. But it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. He mostly went from airport, to train terminal, to small office room (although that office was located on the Champs D'lysses, had a balcony were one could ever so nicely watch the finale of the Tour de France, and had a personal chef that cooked hot lunch every day), but then it was quickly back to airport with little time to enjoy the local flavor. However, although I wasn't traveling with him, I got many a sweet deal out of these weekly departures.

This little box, for instance. It's a walnut, all prettily tied up.

And the inside was even prettier.

Little handmade chocolates

of every kind and design.

I kept this one hidden from the little ones

but Joseph got the better of me.

And all too soon it looked like this.

He managed to find my sweets in every new hiding spot.

Even my beloved French macaroons.

A crime to share with any toddler

(except he adores them just as much as any discerning adult

--seems to be developing his Daddy's foodie persuasion).

And again, this is what I am left with.

I don't think I have one picture of a box

with all its treasure accounted for.

Luckily these were the slightly lower status macaroons.

And not these beauties.

But they went so fast not even the lovely box was left.

Unfortunately, (for my soul, fortunate for my hips) the European trips have become less frequent and I am left with only my pretty boxes as remembrances.

Then, last Friday, my sweet hubby reminded me we have some excellent pastries right in our own back yard, or his back yard rather. (Chris' weekly travels cover an area thousands of miles bigger than mine.)

So when he arrived home late in the evening carrying this

I was beyond overjoyed.

I had been missing our Mike's

since we left Boston 5 years ago.

And here it was, on my own counter.

I opened it to reveal

Oh, oops, sorry, Reader. I meant to wait for you.

There was really good stuff in there.

I promise.

Lobster tails (the cream kind),

florentines,

cannoli's.

But again, it's hard to get a picture before diving in.

You understand, right?

I did save you a tiny bit.

(And that's more than Chris got one cold day in Boston, but that's a story for another time. He was kind enough to forget about it and still bring me some.)

I suppose I should have some conclusion to all this sweet talk. Something about being happy with what we have, or maybe something about home grown American goodness (albeit from the Italian district), but that all seems too serious for a post about so much cream. Or maybe it's just that I can't think straight anymore since I saw there is a smidgen of cannoli left in that box that needs to be eaten. Yup, I'm sure that's it. That means there's only one thing left to do. Gotta go. See ya . . .

Favor

This is my friend Christie and her family. I love her. And I love them. Of course, they don't look much like this anymore (the kids anyway). This was when we were all friends back in Boston. Now they look more like this.

But to the point. I owe Christie a lot. When the blond family that was my life line moved away Christie stepped in to fill the void and be my confidant, friend, sister, play-date buddy, and mentor. My oldest child is 9 months younger than her youngest for one thing and she stood by my side as I stepped into motherhood and coached me along the way. When my husband took a traveling job Christie taught me all the things that got her through single-parent weeks, the things that continue to get both of us through. She showed me you don't need a hubby around to repaint rooms, hang pictures, and deal with flooded basements (although I'm pretty sure her projects all turned out better than mine). She and her husband were our date night companions and Mike's pastry buddies.

Unfortunately, the traveling husband job that she prepared me for also took me away from her; I felt I had somehow betrayed our friendship by moving away but Christie was supportive as always.

I have always wanted to repay her but didn't know quite how I could. Then I read something on her blog. Christie had been doing some weekly service for a friend of hers but that friend was moving away and leaving a void she needed filled. (See, that's the kind of person Stie is, the favors she asks of people are to provide opportunities for her to serve you.) Now, I realize I'm a little late getting to it (Stie posted this plea back in march), but after much thought and discussion with the husband, I have decided that it's the least I can do after all you gave to me. So Christie, consider your favor granted. Mark your calendar for anytime after June and if you can find a way up here, I will provide you with your request to your hearts content.

And Stie, bring something pink.

Oh, Hello

Hi, Blog.

Oh, hello. And how are you?

Uh, good. How 'bout you?

Good. Just enjoying some more of these lovely fall leaves. Gorgeous colours [Blog likes to pretend it's British] this time of year, eh. Just brilliant.

Oh, um, yes. About those fall leaves, Blog. It's actually, um, it's actually a bit past fall now.

What do you mean a bit past fall. I thought you were out doing this

Well, we did do that, just not recently.

Do you mean while I've been holding up this birthday cake picture all the leaves have changed and fallen?

Well, yes. They have fallen. A while ago.

A while ago?!

Yes, sorry.

You mean it's almost winter?

It kind of IS winter. Now it looks less like this

and more like this

Dash it all! [again with the British thing, oy] So, how soon till Christmas?

Well, uh, I guess about 11 months now.

WHAT?!

Yes, we had Christmas, and Will's birthday.

I missed Will's birthday?

Again, sorry, and actually Matthew's too. Although I guess it was only a week or so ago so I can probably still get away with telling you about it, since I haven't been that prompt all along anyway.

I should say.

There was also a little vacation to California. And a visit from the best of friends (more about them tomorrow).

Sheesh.

And a trip to my Happy Land.

But I don't care how long ago that was, I'll still tell you about it, because it was brilliant.

I should hope so. I've never been to Happy Land.

I am sorry, Blog. I didn't mean to be gone so long. Things have just come up.

What things.

You know, little boys, California, Happy Land, church stuff, dishes. And then there's the laundry. Crimeny, the laundry.

Well . . .

I do apologize. Really. And I'll do my best not to be gone for so long again. Plus, I've got great stuff for you this week. You'll like it, I promise.

Hmmmm. Okay.

Okay?

Okay.

Okay. Good then. I'll see you soon?

Yes.

Okay.

Good night.

Good night. Here, I'll leave you with a little Christmas picture. It can't help but make you feel better. Put on a happy face, good night.

Repayed

Our Daddy was out of town for his birthday.  But when he got back his little boys had this waiting for him.  Matthew did all the decorating himself (except the lettering).  

I dyed the frosting per his request.  At first when he asked for "army green" I thought it might be a challenge, but then I thought of all my other coloring woes and remembered, army green has to be the easiest thing in the world to make, since that's the color I get every time I try to make something else fancy.

So I bagged up his frosting and away he went.  He worked long and hard, and Will helped with the occasional finger swipe.  Man was he proud when he finished. Chris was proud of him too.  And happy to be home.  So everyone got rewarded, for making cake or just for being a great boy.  They were well compensated.

Summer Wrap-Up

I'm behind, and I have to do a review.  You don't have to read it.  I've gotten so used to the immediacy of blogs that when I click on to something that happened weeks prior I think, What--this is old news, this happened ages ago--and a little of the meaning is lost.  And here I am about to cover things that happened months ago--I am already bored with my own post, but I continue none the less since this is my best effort at scrapbook/journaling and it's for posterity (so be honest :).

Movie quotes aside, here goes.  I'm starting at the end of the summer, we'll see if I ever make it to the beginning. 

We ended our summer with our Air Show tradition which this year nicely coincided with Joseph's birthday.  Number 3.

I'm dumbfounded.  Number 3.  He's got the attitude to go with it.  

Even now as I am typing, watching them through the window of the parent room at gymnastics, Joseph is standing in line behind Will and periodically poking Will in the shoulder and then hiding his hand a giggling.  Rascal.  Anyway, back to the air show.

My favorite part is having them fly so close that even after they pass the sound is still rattling around in your chest.  Matthew's favorite part was getting up close with a Sherman Tank,

 an old B-17 (the Memphis Bell), the rescue helicopters,

and watching the Harrier stand still in the air and rotate in front of us. 

 (Chest cavity was rattling around for about an hour after that.)  Little Moo has been so enamoured of the military of late that he and I took a special date up to the fabric store so he could pick out his own fabrics he had spied a few weeks earlier for a quilt.  They all star jets, rockets, and weaponry.  This makes me slightly nervous but on the flip side, he was at the fabric store sifting through textiles--I'm hoping the two things balance each other out.

After the air show we headed home for some pizza, cake and party for the littlest Moo.

I sourced out his birthday cake this year and it was a total triumph--thanks Aunt Becky!

He's still talking about it.  If anyone asks him how old he is, he skips the number and goes right to "I had a dinosaur birthday!"

Chris and the older boys went and did a little shopping for Joseph.  The first present he opened was a football 

and he was gone.

Uninterested in any other presents.  My pleas the only thing keeping him seated on the grass.  But he was not letting go of the ball--completely gave up unwrapping his own gifts.

Once he saw it was a helicopter he was a little more interested, but still not enough to let go of the ball.

And the steam roller didn't even garner a one hand welcome.  He gave it a glance but both palms stayed firmly planted on the foot ball.

So the rest of the time was spent throwing balls, catching balls, kicking balls, and batting balls.

And of course, we finished it off with a great game of steamroller thanks to Ben. 

 I wish you could flip through these pictures fast--it's better than a movie.

Birthday Wishes From Afar

I was going through an old box in the basement and found this (if you click on it you can read it bigger)--apparently from our sacrine coated dating days (I embarrass myself a little with the ridiculous reference to Browning--honestly, did I say those things?  I thought I was much more level headed and even, much more Elinor Dashwood than Marianne, oh well).

In any case, it made me smile.  And remember all the early reasons I loved you.  And remember all the silly ways I had of showing it. 

 In case you can't read it, here were 10 ways I had to show I loved you back in our Chatham Towne days--I'll spare you the laughing comments I would add to each now, I'm sure you'll have your own . . .

10.  If you had a 2:00 A.M. craving for them, I would make you brownies from the box.

9.  If one of the girls you home-taught talked as long and as fast as Annie Kennedy (Ashley's friend from next door) and needed to vent, I would come over and listen to her while you went and got a pop.

8.  If all the gas stations and grocery stores around Provo closed for some bizarre reason I would drive to Nephi to get you cherry filled powdered doughnuts and milk.

7.  If you came by my house at 1:00 A.M. after an extremely long and tiring day with a hand written 12 page paper detailing the wonderful new qualities of carbon fiber piping that was due at 10:00 the next morning I would stay up all night typing it for you (and love it!).  (I hope that wasn't a run-on sentence.)

6.  If the Dodge broke down and you were stuck driving the Saturn, I would put in a lumbar support system for your back.

5.  If you needed to test your hand cycle for oscillations at high speeds but didn't want to get hurt I would be your crash test dummy.

4.  If you were stuck at my house in the middle of winter and our heater was broken I would sew all my sweatshirts together to make one for you.

3.  If we got caught at Stewart Falls again after dark without a flashlight and you sprained your ankle I would use all my girls' camp knowledge to cut down some small Aspen trees, make a stretcher, and haul you back to the car. 

2.  If you needed a kidney I would give you one of mine.

1.  If you really wanted to, I would face the roaches, pestilence, disease, and amoebas and travel to Guatemala with you.

Still love you to pieces.  Have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  I love you.

your Emmy

Foiled

I tried to wake up early today.  But then one baby and then another came into my room sleepy eyed, crawled into bed with me, and miraculously fell asleep again snuggled up against me.  So I didn't get up.  Then I was running late.  So I showered quicker than usual, jumped out, and found I was running later.  Then when I started to brush my wet hair I found a nice spot of soap still in there--how did I miss that?  So I tossed my head back under the shower to rinse it and ended up getting my whole body wet again. 

Rats.

It's going to be one of those days, I thought.

But then I thought of something else.  

You might not win yet, FATE.  Or KARMA.  Or WHATEVER it is that conspires against me.  

Because--Today, today I am wearing my RED pants.  And when I wear my red pants I always win.

So I put on my red pants, got my boy on the bus, and went to change the laundry.

And then I found money in the dryer.

Ha Ha.  I WIN.  

Thank you Red Pants.

(blog hijack!!) A Note to My Perfect Wife on Her Birthday

Dearest Emmy-

Happy birthday! This will be the 9th we've celebrated since we were married, and I've loved every minute of it. I still think you're perfect. I still think you have no guile. I think you're the best mom in the world, and you remain my absolute dream girl. I couldn't possibly ask for more.

~188 of my favorite memories (by no means complete):

• Seeing you in the temple right before we got married--what a beautiful girl!
• Sitting in the celestial room with everyone who loved us, daydreaming about how lucky I was and what might become of our new life together
• A wonderful kiss at the wedding
• Riding in the carriage
• Dinner at George's
• Going to Ensenada with the guys
• Hanging out the window in Conneticut to clean the windshield
• Moving in 27 below weather
• Flooding the Medford house
• Rides from Davis square home
• Days on the beach in Boston
• Calling the preschool as I went in for surgery
• No way you should watch TV on the sabbath (unless it's Nascar!)
• Bowling until my legs hurt
• Trips to Maine, complete with Lobsters
• Finding the gorgeous tables and Woodmans on our trip to Essex
• Olives with the McMullins on valentines day #1
• The cat that peed on the bed. . .thrice
• The firt visit with Mikas
• A great week in Boston with Jim and Lori
• Moving to Jacob's barn
• The cherry sideboard surprise
• The little black kitty
• The flying squirrel
• The giant turtles in our back yard!
• The Air Force grill barbeques
• Nightmares of your dad seeing the bright red BMW
• Long nights at MIT, hanging out in the Lab
• Always wanting to sail, and never quite managing it
• Swimming in the neighbor's pool
• Teaching nursery together
• A bump with a tree in the grand cherokee
• The grand marnier souffle
• "Detroit is just as I imagined it"
• Cooking school in NYC
• Making the stoplights for the temple dedication
• "that man needs to calm down!"
• No Boeing. No Exxon. No McKinsey. No Visteon.
• Seattle in the winter, complete with a plant tour
• San Diego in the summer, complete with lots and lots of mexican food
• New York with the family, complete with Niagara, the WTC, and Po with Misty
• Losing the first little one
• Finding out about Mr. Moo
• A rocking chair trip to vermont
• Many weeks on the couch preparing for generals
• Lots of saturdays in the Temple
• Aujord Hui and the fly
• Olives, Capital, Prezza, etc. . .all since "we wouldn't be able to do it again"
• The TV interview on Christmas night with my pregnant wife in the snowstorm that no one would go out in
• The conference call at the hospital
• Meeting Matthew--or was it Michael??
• "Hi, I'm Mat"
• Our angel at the hospital
• A bit of a run in between grandma and the ice
• A freezing house, grandma with a broken leg, a husband going to take his generals, and a new baby--how did you do it?
• Renaming the baby "Mr Silly"
• "Dude, you forgot your Dr. Pepper; don't worry--I got it for you"
• So much On the Border takeout that we couldn't stand it anymore
• Saving $20 bucks, but getting the handicap room in Vegas
• The new silver SUV
• The new titanium sunglasses
• The collision between the silver SUV and the titanim sunglasses (guess who won??)
• MBA graduation
• Continuing on in Boston--exactly where we were supposed to be
• Our baby loves Howie Day!
• Learning to wrestle one little boy on the floor of Jacob's barn
• The Five for Fighting concert
• The Howie Day concert. . . that didn't happen
• Our great friends from Boston--Josh & Christie, Murray and Anna, Jen and Dave, Jeff and Allison, Annie and Greg, Joel , Dougie, Burke and Melanie, the balmforths, Ron and Sue, Tom, Clay, so many others--what a wonderful time
• Blueberry picking on your birthday
• The next call from McKinsey
• The interview process that landed us in Cleveland
• The call from the Ritz--"honey, I feel like this is where we need to be"
• Saving $20, but getting the post office party at the holiday inn!
• Finding our dream house at hunt club
• Another baby's coming!
• Finding the apartment
• Those gay guys at the model home
• Swimming with Matthew
• Matthew saying goodbye every morning from the apartment window
• Strawberries at the Marriott
• The envelope with the house plans
• Trying to choose our colors for three days--all in the boston airport
• The next conference call at the hospital, except at Mt. Auburn this time
• Meeting William--or is it Michael??
• Renaming him Willians
• Driving to work on thanksgiving right before my defense
• A few minutes late to the defense. . .that's ok
• Capital Grille after the defense
• Taking the family to Utah for a month of post-defense decompression
• The very, very tired pictures of me after the defense
• Preparing the house for you
• Moving into a house with no lights in the family room
• Installing trim in the dining room and living room
• Finding beds for the boys
• Learning to wrestle with two little boys on the floor of our new house
• Late nights talking, and loving every minute with you
• Late nights complaining about a horrible time working in Mentor
• Questioning whether we had done the right thing
• Our first talks in the westlake ward
• Matthew finding the hot dog
• All of our wonderful friends in the westlake ward
• Meeting Jodi and Gavin
• Meeting Eric and Shelly
• Being ever so glad when ben and tara decided to come live in hunt club
• Getting called to be EQP, with the big long discussion about headlights
• "Don't tell him to get a truck!!"
• Getting the Lord's truck
• The chocolates at the Westin in Grand Cayman
• Breakfast at the chocolate shop in Grand Cayman
• Snorkeling at Stingray City
• Tommy's baptism
• The new sprinkler system
• Driving to St. George to get a puppy
• "Hmm. . .maybe not a good time for a puppy"
• Looking forward to Joseph
• The new blue car to fit all three kids
• Meeting Joseph Michael "Big Daddy" Musso
• "I want to go to the park, Dammit!"
• Leveraging the Cayman to get the black 335
• A wonderful trip to California (albeit on the wrong weekend!)
• The first trip to Sea World
• "Matthew Musso, we don't pee on our friends on the sidewalk of On The Border"
• Learning to wrestle with three little boys
• Lots of wonderful trips to see our families, with several snowy trips over the mountain
• Will's first set of stitches
• Will's second set of stitches
• Our perfect three little boys
• Moving to Lorain ward, with 4 months of relief
• Getting called to the HC by President Rice
• Sending Laura off on her mission
• Watching you serve all of our friends, helping whenever, wherever you can
• Mr. Moo starts preschool
• A wonderful, wonderful trip to St. John
• Hikes through the jungle and pictures at the sugar factory
• The world's most picturesque wedding
• A long flight home from St. John, complete with tired, crying children
• Losing a wonderful grandma
• Christmas in St. George
• The red mountain with the boys
• Christmas in Montrose
• A great trip to Florida
• Stuffing the family into two rooms at the Diplomat
• Canoeing through the mangroves
• The old rooms at the Dolphin
• The second trip to Sea World
• The first trip to Disney World
• Visiting the animal kingdom hotel
• The white Mercedes
• A fun--and I mean FUN--new basement, with lots of room for wrestling
• Pop's truck as a bicycle backstop
• A trip out west for Tinny's wedding
• Swimming lessons with Jenny
• The Big Ring
• Roasting Joseph's wiennie
• The daddy-matthew airshow tradition
• Mr. Moo's first day of kindergarten
• Mr. Moo's F-22 self-perception
• Lots and lots of legos
• Trips to the Zoo
• Boo at the Zoo
• A new little Boo at our house
• A wonderful couple of days in Amsterdam
• Waffles at the Pulitzer
• A walk through the Van Gogh museum
• Visits to the science museum
• Our trip to Columbus and COSI
• Mr. Moo's girlfriends (he doesn't kiss them very often, though)
• Skiing down the hills of Montrose with Moo and Willians
• Skiing down the hills of Brianhead with you, moo, and willians
• Meeting little Dafu again as he learns to talk
• Two perfect days in Paris
• Montmarte
• Le Tour Eiffel
• Notre Dame
• The river boat
• La Grande Cascade
• Our awesome new playset and trampoline
• Your complete support through the toughest 6 months of my working life
• Our little gymnasts
• Kindergarten graduation
• Friend injured at our barbeque, and all of your service taking care of his family
• A great weekend in Oregon, with beaches, toy shops, and kites
• A full house this summer
• Our little swimmers
• Our quick drive to NYC
• My perfect family

Quite a list--missing many, many more memories but more than enough to soak my keyboard with tears of gratitude for you. I can't tell you how much you mean to me, how much you mean to our family, and how much you mean to so many other people in our lives. You are the person I look up to most, the person I trust most, and the person I most want to be with.

After nearly 10 years, you are still the best thing about me. I love that we can't think of any "rocky patches" in our marriage. I think that August 17 is the best day of the year.

Thanks for marrying me.

Love,

your chris

A Note To My Parisian Lover

Missing you.  

Wish it was another day like this.

I love you.

Something the Walrus Said

Matthew came to me Monday night a while after I had tucked him in bed saying his tooth was too loose and wiggly for him to sleep.

"The time has come."  He agreed with me that it needed to be yanked.  There was only pittance holding it in anyway and it was becoming more snaggly by the day. He was loath for me to pull it however (as was I) and insisted it be done by a "professional."  So we called Ben.  Ben is a useful friend in many ways, not the least of which being his title as Dentist.  So we gave Ben a call and hopped out the door hand in hand for a happy little stroll down the street.  Matthew couldn't have been more excited.  He raced ahead to Ben and Tara's house but as soon as we walked in the door jumped behind me and needed some coaxing to come out. 

Ben snapped on some blue gloves, and with a paper towel wiggle back and forth, back and forth. Matthew kept giggling and laughing but would nervously pull Ben's hands away any time he felt pressure.  Ben wiggled some more, poked around with a tooth pick, and then handed Matthew the towel to do the same.  Little Moo pinched his fingers around the tooth, gave a tiny pull (but I think bigger than he was expecting), and with a minuscule POP it was free.

Moo did not have the reaction I thought.  It surprised him for sure.  And all of a sudden he wasn't as confident in his decision as he had been 3 seconds before.  

He didn't want to open his mouth and I could see in his face the unsure feeling about this new hole.  After a while biting on the paper towel and sitting with lips tight, curiosity got the better of him and he ventured a feel.

His little tooth was mostly hollow and his gum had grown down into it.  It left a funny nub of gum.  Moo saw it in the mirror and was not pleased.    His biggest concern (said with little furrowed eye browns and a pitiful fact) "my pictures are going to look funny all summer."

And so this is the best we are left with.

But by the time we got home he was back in high spirits dreaming of the hoards of cash he would find under his pillow the next day.  Apparently someone in his kindergarten class got $20 dollars.  (What kind of conspiracy is going on when some kid gets $20 dollars from the Tooth Fairy--I ask you?!).  I assured him that must have been for a whole mouth of teeth and he was just as pleased as punch with the one dollar bill paper airplane he discovered in the morning.

Update:  that gum healed up in two days and he is now left with a nice clean chiclet hole, smiley pictures are coming our way again!