Wednesday, April 18, 2012

A Decade



It seems long when you say it like that. Small fry, here with us for a decade. It is strange being the second child. The unfinished baby book, the blog post I almost didn't do because my week has been...well you know. The child I called on my WAY home and said "What do you want to do for your birthday?" What does the younger, people pleasing sibling say? "Well I really like that meatloaf, but it takes a long time huh?" Consolation birthday, a movie on a school night, at a theater.
So here it is for my small fry. Maybe small, but a deep thinker, too deep sometimes...I worry.
My small fry who loves the ocean, wants to be a lego designer AND a marine biologist.
I remember the afternoon he was born like it was yesterday. My best friend Suree by my side again, only telling me make this one shorter and no blue-gray, not breathing baby like the first time.
I complied. Small Fry came flying out, literally. We hadn't found out what he was, I remember hubby's excited voice "Oh, it's a boy!" I didn't have the heart to tell him I already knew, my keen eye had seen a third "femur" on the ultrasound. I had packed a girl outfit anyway.
I remember him in my arms, face all scrunched, so UNLIKE his brother. He looked like a wise soul even then. I called him my little old gnome. With the second child you can't wait to LOOK knowing, what a miracle it is. I immediately thought, "oh my god he looks just like his dad". Still does.
I remember not seeing him forever after, he had to see a cardiologist "a small valve not closed" Really, people who says that to an anxiety type mom! I remember taking off the silly hat they put on and there was the hair that made me almost drop him. GIRL hair, long and sticking straight up. I started liking my fingers that very night to push it down. I still do.
I could go on and on. He is my baby...will always be...I love you small fry!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Desert tidbits

I don't know if one can lump in a whole 2.5 days worth of adventure and a 14 hour drive in a pithy blog entry. I can say the following...

I loved visiting the desert. Emphasis on visiting. I don't think you will ever take the hill, green, and seasons out of me. We are thinking an annual Easter trip may become part of our family tradition.

Taking your children on trips and having them see other parts of the world is a GOOD thing. As we passed the city skyline of Denver in the dark, Small Fry was in love. "Wow, I don't think I want to live in Rapid, I think here would be cool."

Brotherly love, self sacrificing. Big Fry wanting to bike ride the "big stuff" more, but not wanting to ask because he wanted to help his little brother catch that lizard Small Fry had promised to bring back as a class pet.

Speaking of lizards. If I was keeping score it would be Lizards 20 something and boys 4. That is how many came back in the car with us to contribute to the class pet project. The teacher should have NEVER doubted, never.

Biking with the boys, all 3 is humbling. I am last. I have to send Small Fry in front of me to yell "tricky part" so I know to bail, or speed up. I keep chanting what hubby said, "speed is my friend, speed is my friend" At the same time thinking of how far ahead Big Fry is and the concept of stop at intersecting trails has no meaning to him, it takes hubby awhile to find where he went to.

Peeing in the desert...did you know it is NOT like peeing in the forest. If you are not off the bike trail far enough people WILL see you. And not only will they see you frantically trying to pull up your really tight bike shorts. They will ride on, passing your husband and say, "Is that your girlfriend back there? You might want to tell her she wasn't off the trail far enough" Where then hubby will chew you out saying you are supposed to yield to bikes going uphill, move over further.

Monday, April 9, 2012

just a teaser


No slick rock, but Hubby and big fry did Porcupine rim...picture taking was in hubby's hands so maybe more later.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Adventure

Rapid City to Lakewood
Lakewood to Moab
Fun time
Moab to Rapid City
See you next week!

Monday, April 2, 2012

If a thirteen year old could listen...



I would share with him the following ideas as he moves forward towards some of the most exciting, scary, intimidating, and confusing years we probably have all known. These would be the words and wishes that I would have whispered in his ear 13 years ago before I even knew him as this separate person, and others (knowing him now) would be ones I would whisper tonight....
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined-Thoreau
Be curious, not judgemental-Whitman
Never, never, never give up-Churchill
If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud-Zola
No one can take the place of a friend, no one-Angelou
Two roads diverged in the wood and I-I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.- Frost