Thursday, June 30, 2011

Gram...

This is Gram. . .



Right now she is in a nursing home. Her memories disappearing. Here she is with Luke right after he was born.


But before... My Gram. She lived right across the street from us when I was growing up. I remember spending lots of time at her place. Spending the night in a sleeping bag on her bedroom floor. Playing the organ at her house. She and my Pap got an Atari... the first video game we had ever seen. And it was so very cool. Erin and I loved playing Breakout.

On Fourth of July we would go to Hills and see the fireworks. And when I got older, down to the Point in Pittsburgh to see the really cool fireworks. Gram would always pack some goodies for us. A little baggie of snack size Hershey bars and such hidden away in her pocket. And a little cooler of Diet Pepsi. She always brought along diet Pepsi wherever she went.

It made me a little sad when I found this photo of her today. Almost six years ago, after Luke was born.

And tonight.... I am packing up the vini-man. Sam is taking Jaxon to hockey practice right now. And when they get back, we are headed off to the drive-in to see Cars 2 (shhh... it's a surprise).

So, I'm packing up blankets and pillows (so we can be comfy). I'll be popping popcorn. And I filled a small cooler (the soft red one Amie gave me for Christmas) with 2 Cokes.... And as I put them inside the bag, the heavy in my heart grew.... The wishing... And memories of her voice... And her hands full of happy chocolates... A smile on her face...



Sunday, June 26, 2011

home. . .





A quiet. A peace. A slow stillness. . .

The suitcases crowd the entry and dining room. I wander into the kitchen, to see the sink clean. The backyard quiet. Empty.

Our space.... bleary-eyed. Yawning. Waking from a week-long sleep while we were away.

It's stillness quiets our usual loud, frantic pace.

So good to be home.



The boys spent the day rediscovering their toys. Playing Lego games quietly together. Ethan ran from room to room, finding all those little nooks and spots he loves. And running around with a small backpack... his own suitcase... reliving his vacation memories. Sam ran. I even enjoyed doing laundry. Making a small dent in the pile we brought home with us.


And feeling our space. Our home always feels so "big"... after time away in a hotel room.

Enjoying being home. Lazily swimming in this pool of quiet before the ripples begin to tickle my toes... and the schedule of life resumes.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

at the edge of town. . .



Leaving. . . on the way back to route 70. . . sits a little blue house. . .

It always seems strange to me that this used to be a "People House". And now it is an insurance agency. A part-time house. Do you think it feels a little sadness... A longing for earlier days....

I suppose any melancholy has to be lightened with this sign. I love this sign. The person who cares for it always has a one-liner that makes me laugh out loud (my poor Sam... I do have a dry sense of humor... even little Jaxon said last night: "I can laugh at the jokes on my popsicle sticks. . . [but not mine, I suppose....sigh....].

This, so far has been my favorite...

Saturday, June 11, 2011

who is he?

Found this little guy on the back porch.






The boys have been asking to watch a butterfly hatch. Hoping this is an answer to their sweet little dreams. . .



Whomever he is. . . he's been busy at work. . . creating a cocoon?

Thursday, June 9, 2011

the second official day of summer.. .. ..






...and the questions begin.

You know, not "Mama, what can I do? I'm bored."

Nope. More remiscient of this.....

Today's questions included.....

Why do people sue people? What does sueing mean? And do good people sue other people?

What is a license plate?

And, my personal favorite.... Why do they bury people in boxes instead of in the dirt?

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

he's toast. . .

Not buttered....


He ran and ran and ran with the big brothers this morning. Around and around the downstairs circle with Luke. Laughing and silly. Screaming with delight.

And then into the "fort" with Jaxon. Throwing himself against the walls in silliness. Tackling his Mama and his brother.

Giving the morning every ounce of his baby gusto.

And by 11:30 he was crying and sad. . .clumbsy and falling. . .uncomforted by his nip and a Mama cuddle. And I thought maybe he was just ready for lunch. But, when that didn't do the trick, I realized that his big brothers had worn him out.



He's not quite ready for the big leagues yet. But, he's trying.

last day of school. . . & first day of summer. . .



The first day of school....


and the last day of school....



What a difference in these two boys.

Jaxon, taller. Wiser. Still a boy at heart [trading Pokemon at school...running and playing tag while waiting for the bus]. But glimpses of the man he is becoming [he's got the beginnings of a mustache]. An athlete [scoring another goal at his game this weekend....and an assist....earning the cheers and excitement of his coach and his teammates]. And a scholar [bringing home awards for the "hardest worker" and a medal for excellence in Social Science].

Luke, more confident. The little boy who held is brother's hand the first day, is now holding him close and laughing [while still trying to hide his shiny teeth]. Asserting his preferences [note the "Justin Beaver" hair]. But also wanting to be so much like his big brother [playing Legos, squishes, and Pokemon]. And discovering his own likes [see the Digdug shirt?].



And beginning the first day of summer quietly. All rising at the same time. Ethan chattering to himself in his crib. Jaxon rising bleary-eyed, talking of plans for a new tower at Lego Hogwards. And Luke, a small pile of Biscuit books around him, reading to himself, happily in his bed.