I Never Imagined Coming Home to Blue Balloons

I never imagined coming home to blue balloons.
I imagined lace, ruffles and frilly things.
I imagined pink.

I never imagined being asked to make up songs about race cars…crashing.
I imagined hair bows, dresses and patent leather shoes.
I imagined tea parties.

I never imagined using words like “coupling, shunting or buffers”…
Or knowing the name of every Thomas train…
Or the difference between a diesel streamliner and a diesel switcher.

I never imagined a backyard filled with wheelbarrows, trucks and bulldozers…
Or books filled with airplanes, demolition machines and spaceships…
Or shouts of “5-4-3-2-1…BLASTOFF!”

I never imagined loving little worn-out Chuck Taylor hightop sneakers…
Or camouflage cargo shorts..
Or ballcaps.

I never imagined waking up each morning to a kiss from tiny, sticky lips…
Or the joy at hearing the words “I Love You Mama”…
…35 times each day.

I never imagined being crowned princess…
…by a little boy…
…over bowls of rice krispies.

I know now I never imagined because of the impossibility of imagining perfection.

I never imagined coming home to Blue Balloons.
Now I can’t imagine anything else.
I can’t imagine that I ever imagined anything else.

Loving summer...

...and loving my boys.

So Big!

Sam is "SO BIG", waving bye-bye, the proud owner of 4 big teeth, crawling all over the place and I swear today he said "book" while holding one of his favorites out to me. Really.

Henry is finishing his last week of school. He will have one week off before summer school begins. He is a hoot. A real hoot.

We are just back from a super fun week in Missouri where we were able to play with lots of friends and family...even got to celebrate Grandpa Leland's 86th Birthday, meet the oh-so-cute Fisher Dene Stevens, experience a photo shoot with Baby Jack and Uncle John thanks to super photographer Aunt Adrienne, and Sam sat on Earl the horse for the very first time! The boys were so great on the long drives to and from MO...they are so good in the car! Henry is a singer and as long as Sam has Puff's he's good.

We're ready for summer...heading to the lake this weekend to kick it off...

May Day!

Happy May Day!

Happy Birthday Henry!!!

With our playgroup friends...on our new swingset...with Bob, Papa, Grandma and Grandma Beckman...during special breakfasts...while dying Easter eggs...and every other minute for the last week and a half, we've been celebrating year three. Henry is three years old, and as confirmed by his pediatrician, a BIG and TALL three years old. Every day we are amazed by him, and look forward to what, in addition to more trains, this new year will bring. A close second to trains, Henry loves roller coasters, puzzles and books...Shel Silverstien is the favorite at the moment. Sometimes I can hear him playing in his room reciting lines from his favorite poems..."ickle me, pickle me, tickle me too."

Speaking of tickle me too...Sam has enjoyed all of the Birthday festivities, but Sam enjoys everything as long as it doesn't involve taking naps. Sam, too, is a big boy...a big, happy boy. He rolls and rolls and laughs and laughs. He gives kisses, especially to his mama, and waves bye-bye.

And...a special thanks to BOB for two weeks of wrangling little boys...slicing hot dogs...pouring milk...rocking babies...washing dishes...pushing swings...coloring Easter eggs...changing diapers...working puzzles...icing cupcakes...taking out the trash and being a special, wonderful BOB to Henry and Sam.

We are so happy for the sunshine...come play anytime!