Family Vacations

For years, Daddy's family was going up to Green Lake. We took a break, but were so happy to be able to take you guys there. I loved watching Jaiden try to ski, Jaxon try to surf, and JT going along for all the rides. Building sand castles, fishing, and swimming. That's what a summer vacation is about. 

Amber

When certain songs come on, I get visceral, emotional reactions. Amber by 311 makes me just happy, sedate, and calm. Just after our honeymoon, your dad and I were in FL driving from Orlando to Bradenton to visit Bac Chi. Amber came on and we sung it at the top of our lungs. When the chorus came, daddy lovingly changed it from "Amber is the color of your energy" to "Amber is the color of your inner Chi." It makes me smile every time I hear the song. I told Jaiden about it last night and he changed the lyric to "Amber is the color of my inner pee." So now I have something else to laugh about. 

http://youtu.be/SUFSB2plwzM 

Starting School

It is bittersweet to see JT off to Kindergarten. I was anxious but happy. We talk about how time is accelerating and this is one where we can't wait for the next step, but are trying to hold onto each day. 

A life outside our family

Today, while shopping for back to school stuff at Target, we ran into 2 of the Theatre Camp counselors. I realized just how much your lives are going to seep away from us. You already have school friends, soccer friends, and now summer friends. You have inside jokes, and codes, and giggles that I don't understand, and sometimes don't want to. (Why would they think you were affiliated with the CIA?) Your smile is sly and mischievous. Your demeanor is confident. You are standing in your own social circles. 

And I am happy. We want people to see in you what we see in you. The flip side is that we have to share you with more and more people. Please know we will always love you and be the ones who were your first circle. 

Family Vacations

This past week, we bought a boat. 

It wasn't cheap. Daddy and I discussed this over years, but got really serious when he said he wanted an activity to do with the family. Daddy works to provide us with a beautiful house, food, soccer, and other experiences. However, he doesn't have a chance to enjoy it with us.  It was unfair for him to have only one time a year, skiing, where he feels true joy with his family. 

Any given day, I am able to see the best and worse parts of parenting. But I am around you more. Daddy rarely gets those longer times of just fun. He doesn't get to sit in the pool or run around a park with his kids. We are realizing how fast our three boys are growing. We want this family to continue in pursuits that are engaging and will make you want to vacation with us in the future. 

We want more time...and that is something we won't get. 

Lasting Relationships

Over time, some friends will be more significant than others. Some will be more present than others. You have to decide who you want to give your time to, who will respect and appreciate the attention you give them. Yes, there are social interactions that will not amount to any memorable experience, and you will spend time with people who are fun, but those relationships are not substantial. Then, there are friends who you will not talk to for months, and it will be like no time passed. 

Yesterday, I spoke to 2 friends who live out of state and drove to the airport, to pick up one, in town for work. This week, a great friend, who I don't see or talk to much, came to visit. The time spent with those friends grounds me, and gives me an opportunity to enrich my conversations with daddy. They make me happy to engage and learn about their challenges. They are sounding boards for me. Discussions this week went from managing personal insecurities, to parenting, to developing young college graduates, to ridding yourself of selfish people, to having fun in the bedroom, to negotiation tactics. 

You will hear me talk about my "best friends" and I am blessed to have many who I am close with, specifically Uncle L, Uncle Tom, Mrs. Beth Snider, and Mrs./Aunt Michelle, all of which I have known for over 20 years. But there are others, like Ms. Mary in ATL, who I've known for 5 yrs and has become a true and close friend. Your Bac Chi and Bac Huong are my dear sisters. And Daddy, well, he is the one friend closest to my heart. 

So when you are looking at your friends, think about who moves you forward, who helps you in your decisions, who ushers you through challenges, who will let you feel vulnerable, who will make you see your shit and not let you get away with it. Your friends will be smarter than you, more talented than you, more compelling than you. But you are all those things to them too. 

Bac Huong and Bac Chi in town for my birthday, Jan 2014.

Uncle Tom, Senior Year. May 1994

Aunt Michelle, 1998.

Mrs. Beth Snider, 1999. 

Ms. Tammy and Ms. Mary, Mexico 2014. 

August 2012

The 100 Happy Days Challenge

When I broke my ankle in April, my friend Mary suggested I try the 100 Happy Days Challenge. The site asked you to post one picture a day that made you happy. I got to 108 before I realized I had passed the mark. I want to keep going. There are days where I feel totally beat up emotionally, but I want to find that one thing that is light. 

Today, Jaiden (10) crawled into bed for some quick ZZZ before breakfast. Soon, he won't come anymore. Soon, he'll be too cool for affection. Soon, someone will break his heart and I pray he will come to me for a hug or some comfort. Soon, I won't register on his radar. But we will take the snuggles now.