Little moments

 Each & everyday is filled, it seems, with little moments that I wish to capture in jars like fireflies and have on display.  By the time I get through bedtime, though, and sit down at the computer to recount the adorableness of my two three-year-olds, I have only retained about a quarter of the cute instances. Such is life...

Some mornings I don't set my alarm to wake up & get ready before the boys are up.  Those days, I awake to their knocking and yelling, "Mommy, the light is green!" I roll out of bed, open their door, turn on their cartoons and sometimes go back to lay in bed with Wyatt for a bit.  When I do this, the boys inevitably join me, wanting to snuggle with the baby and I.  The other morning Logan joined us and was laying on a pillow next to Wyatt with his arm wrapped around Wyatt's head.  He closed his eyes and leaned in close, whispering, "I will keep you safe, buddy."  I melted. Puddle on the floor. It was so precious I don't think my description does it any justice.

When we met my parents at camping for the day last weekend the boys were so sweet to each other. I don't know why that day was so good, but it was.  Logan fell down, tripping over a root, and Jack asked, "Are you okay, Logan?" This glimpse of empathy makes me proud to be their mom.  I must be doing something right!

Since the baby was born, and especially since Josh left, the boys have turned into my big helpers.  They do everything.  Help set the table. Open the door for me, open the gate for me. Lock the door for me, close the gate for me. They help me load the car, make their beds, do the laundry & the dishes. I am so excited for all they are capable of doing now.  Sometimes their ability & their independence backfires (like this morning when Jack brought me the lighter I have in the kitchen for my candles...) but most of the time it is just awesome!

The Sunday after we returned from camping, Jack was "popping" his balloon.  He would hold the tied end and pull it away, and then the balloon would "pop" away from him.  He was cracking up at how cool it was.  I asked who taught him that and he said, "My friend taught me that."  Then I remembered he and Kate (my dad's friends' daughter) playing with a balloon down by the water Saturday.  It was so cute that he remembered and that he could tell me who taught him.

Kate's dad, Art, taught Logan how to do a thumb war, and ever since that's all he wants to do. But his favorite part is when he tries to cheat (by using his other hand to hold my thumb down) and I pretend to yell at him, "Hey! That's not fair! Hey, stop it!!!" and he cracks up at his own mischeiviousness.  Naughty!

Last week Wyatt smiled at Jack.  It was the first time I saw him make eye contact with one of the boys and really acknowledge their presence. Jack was overjoyed to have his little brother cooing at him.  It was a precious moment for sure.

On the drive to camping Jack was talking about our previous camping trip, to the KOA in Culver, and he said, "Mom, can you call it campsite? Not camping." I told him I would. 

We went to Target the other morning and at the nearby construction site, they had these huge cranes. I let the boys get out of the car and just watch them work for a while. Jack watched in awe and said, "That's amazing!"  While Logan told me, "That's the coolest thing ever!" Where do they come up with this stuff?

The other night Josh called while I was still doing bedtime with the boys, so I let them talk for a bit.  When Logan went to hang up he said, "See you tomorrow, Daddy-- Talk to you tomorrow." He corrected himself.  I think that shows how much he understands. He knows that Daddy is in Alaska and we won't see him for a while.  He told me today that he thinks Josh is working on the housing with the workers.  I didn't correct him because maybe he thinks if Josh works on it, it will be done sooner and we can be together quicker.

Today the boys said they wanted to go see Grandma Woo Woo (my grandma who lives at the beach) and I asked who should come with since Daddy isn't here.  Jack said he thought Samuel & Julie should join us, while Logan said he thought Grandma Carol might be there already.  I told them I would talk to Nanny & Papa to see if they would come with us, and I explained that Grandma Woo Woo is Papa Barry's mommy (a concept that seemed lost on them) and then Logan looked thoughtful for a second and glanced up at me saying, "I love her," about Grandma Woo Woo.  That precious look on his face, the sincerity, was beautiful.  He's beautiful.

The last few days have been good days. Really good days. Filled with good friends, great play dates and a few breaks for me as family members have taken the twins for a few hours a couple of times.  In addition to lots of fun, I was able to successfully skype with Josh, and it was so awesome. We talked for an hour and a half and my cheeks literally hurt from laughing so hard and smiling so much.  It was so good to see his face and have him show me his new classroom. I am so insanely proud of him.  This journey began for him in the fall of 2005 at Clark College.  He continued from there to WSU.  And from there to a year of subbing.  That's six years of waiting and working & finally {FINALLY} he's arrived.  Monday his students will be in their seats and he'll be standing at the front of the class.

The stars are aligning... He's a teacher & I'm a stay-at-home-mom... Now we just wait for the day we are together again, and all will be right in the world!