My Boys and Me

LIFE that is Ha! I don’t think there is ever a moment we don’t feel like that- well, at least not me. I have to say, I now realize how much I took for granted living in a city where family was right around the corner willing and eager to help. Yes, I did work full time with 2 kids while in South Carolina, but Mike’s Mom watched the boys which made everything easier. I didn’t have to rush from work in traffic to get to them and most of the time when I did go pick them up, they were fed AND bathed and a plate of food was waiting for me. ****SIGH**** I was SO spoiled! If I wanted to go to the grocery store, Target or really ANYwhere ANYtime, Mike’s Mom or Dad or Aunt was always around to help out. I promise this entry is not going to be a complain fest. Trust me, I realize how blessed I am and I wouldn’t change my life or family for anything. I thought I’d just explain why the blog entries seem to be fewer and far between (I know, what else is new?) Work is busy. I am busy BUSY the entire 8 hours I am there. When I get home, I am too exhausted to do anything much less stare at a computer after having done so for the entire day. Last week I added “Have I Told You Lately” by Rod Stewart to my IPod and e-mailed the words to Mike. I’m going to include them on here so you can understand just how much this man does for me. I simply could not survive in this world without him. Other than Tuesday and Wednesday (the 2 days he works overtime- unless Braeden has a baseball game), when I come home from work, the boys are fed, bathed, homework is done and almost always clothes from the dryer are laid flat (so I can fold and put unwrinkled clothes away- he would put them away too, but I’m too picky). Oh Mike, I must have done something right in my life for God to have blessed me with YOU! As if HE doesn’t work enough (averaging 56 hours a week), lack sleep and any sort of social life (outside of his wife and boys), he accepted the offer to be Braeden’s assistant baseball coach. So, now he also adjusts HIS schedule to make sure he can take Braeden to every game and practice. Have I mentioned how BLESSED I am and how much I love my family? I guess if not being able to type in my blog as often as I want (although I am determined to write MORE frequently just shorter entries which everyone will probably like better anyway) is my biggest complaint right now, I am one LUCKY gal! I kinda like not having time to do much else but hang out with the 3 coolest dudes on the planet. At this least way I don’t have any drama to deal with.

Mike is doing well. He continues to enjoy his job. Hard to believe it’s almost been a year since he graduated and started his job. He works harder than anyone I know and I am so proud of him and thankful to him for being such an amazing provider (and not just financially).

Braeden……oh that boy melts my heart more and more the older he gets and truly never ceases to amaze and impress me. He recently had 4 teeth pulled. They were baby teeth, but not at all “ready” to come out. Mike took him (add Doctor’s appointments and Dental appointments to the list of all Mike handles) and said that the root on a couple of the teeth were over an inch long. He woke up to bloody pillow cases for days, was sore and uncomfortable, yet never complained. He continues to excel at school and is 3 for 3 on quarterly President’s Honor Roll (all A’s in all subjects) earnings. He tried out to be the #2 starting pitcher for his baseball team despite never having pitched before and hardly practicing and earned the spot. He pitched for the first time in game #1 (last Thursday). He was brought in to pitch in the middle of the 3rd inning with 2 outs. He struck the batter OUT to end the inning. The team went on to win 12-3 (Braeden gave up 0 runs). It makes me so happy to see him enjoy something with full spirit. Of course I had hoped he’d love baseball at least a little, but his passion for the sport comes from deep within himself. He refuses to miss any Phillies televised game even if it means postponing a movie date with Mom or playing outside with friends. The other night, after witnessing him express extreme frustration that lead him to tears over a Phillies loss (game #5), I had to remind him that the MLB season is 6 months and 150+ games long and that he has to accept losses and imperfection right along with talent and wins. I really want to guide him, but I don’t want to change that incredible desire he has. Right now (with a little help from Mom and Dad) he seems to exhibit the right balance. He gets mad at himself when he messes up, but can shake it off quickly and ALWAYS comes back with a fight and does better! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that boy! I really don’t believe he is MINE at times.

Mikey………..he lights up my day every day. He is so sweet and snuggly yet SO mischievous, curious and feisty! He is doing really well in school and the other day recited the entire Pledge of Allegiance to me. Why was I worried about his academics? He has caught on so quickly. While Braeden rarely ever needs help with homework or studying, Mikey may require a little help focusing (umm, I am 32 and I STILL need help), but I’m OK with that knowing he can now say his ABC’s and count past 10. Hard to believe he will go to kindergarten in a little over a year. Hard to believe he will be 4 in a little over a month. In so many ways he is still so much a little baby to me, yet in so many other ways (lack of fear) he is such a big boy. Likewise, he can flip his mood in an instant. Braeden can fuss at him and he will respond with, “Oh ya TOUGH guy!?” one time and the next come running to me with tears saying, “Braeden yelled at me.” And what I mean by Braeden was “fussing” at him, is almost always to redirect him ie. “NO Mikey you do NOT put your hex bugs down the ac vent” or “NO Mikey you can NOT throw my teddy on top of Mommy and Daddy’s dresser!” One quick funny- he came home from school with a sticker on him. I didn’t really get a good look at it before taking it off when stripping him for the bath. Later that night I asked him what he got the sticker for. He said, “That was for being a good listener at school.” Braeden over heard and chimed in, “Mommy, that sticker said, ‘Don’t forget picture day tomorrow’”

I think that about catches everyone up. Work is going well for me, just really busy. I continue to be really happy with the choice to go back to work and enjoy the work I am doing as well as the people I work with. I am LOVING the warmer weather which means (yes to reiterate) BASEBALL, tank tops and skirts that I prefer much more to the bulky jackets and boots, leaves on the trees and green grass. Yes folks, it IS the simple things that make me happiest these days. Thank you Lord!

I am typing this on my lunch at work so I will post another blog catching up on pictures, but here is one cute one of Mikey with an early Birthday present from Aunt Lisa- His very own DVD player. He calls it his laptop. A- because it is small and opens and closes like a laptop; B- because it is white like my laptop and C- because he can put it on his lap- GENIOUS!

Happy Easter everyone. Mike, the boys and I send hugs and kisses and thanks to Grandma and Papa and Nana and Roy for the great Easter packages they sent, aunt Lisa and uncle Lorne for the Easter baskets they sent filled with goodies, Mom Mom and Pop Pop for the new big boy Lighting McQueen bike (stay tuned for pictures)-Mikey and Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy (he’s getting caught up before the 4th one comes out this summer) and DS game- Braeden

BTW, one of the reasons I was able to type this (lengthy) blog is because the boys are in SC with Mike’s parents this week for Spring Break and I was able to take an hour lunch as opposed to the 30 minute lunch I usually take so I can leave at 5:00 to accommodate the traffic and get to Mikey’s school in time. Although we miss them, I think Mike and I are BOTH enjoying the break. Kind of funny that he and I took our vacation without them and they are taking their “vacation” without us. They will be home Saturday and then life will be back to……..life

Have I Told You Lately That I Love you-

“Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you there’s no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness,
Ease my troubles, that’s what you do.

For the morning sun in all it’s glory,
Meets the day with hope and comfort too,
You fill my life with laughter, somehow you make it better,
Ease my troubles, that’s what you do.

There’s a love less defined,
And it’s yours and its mine,
Like the sun.
And at the end of the day,
We should give thanks and pray,
To the one, to the one.

And at the end of the day,
We should give thanks and pray,
To the one, to the one.”

I have less than 10 minutes to write so I just wanted to say I MISS typing in the blog and I hope you’ve missed reading it. In the next couple days I will have a nice LOOOOONG update and then I’ve decided to try a new approach- itty bitty-non-long-winded (“long winded” is my nick-name at work) entries much more frequently. Sound good? GOOD!