Successes on and off the field

This weekend, Jaiden had a win and a loss, Jaxon won and JT won. We love watching you guys play. I love seeing you enjoy the game because none of you scored, but aided your teams to win. Winning isn't always about the person who found the back of the net, but of the work to get the ball up the field, past the opposing players to your teammate. 

I have seen you display the same humility and joy in school and playing with your friends. You make me proud to have you on any team. It is our job to continue to teach you to respect anyone involved with giving you the opportunities you have to succeed. 

Reading

It was always important to me that I read to you at bedtime. I wanted you to discover books sooner than I did. 

I don't know how it started. I was NOT a good reader. When I started working, I read the paper and some books on the train. I was invited to a book club in the city and I think that was the accelerant. Daddy thinks I read too much, sometimes to the detriment of our relationship. But I read to feel beyond myself. Everyday, I feel love, happiness, annoyance, frustration, joy...but I don't feel that angst of youth, of FALLING in love, of tumultuous regret. The extremes of emotion because they stem from new adventures and actions that I wouldn't do or take now. So I read and my heart hurts, and sings, and laughs, and breaks, and ponders...in the safety of our home. When you feel the fullest extent of an emotion, it is probably a reaction to an event that either will cripple you or change your life. I like our life and don't really want my heart broken, but I want extreme joy. So we live day to day. Mostly Happy. And reading to empathize. 

12 yrs on...

Today, Daddy and I came to our twelfth anniversary. In those years, we bought a house, Daddy grew the business 10-20% each year and expanded into China, I built a program to help college students find jobs from 50 to over 200 students, but most importantly, we had 3 great kids. We are so fortunate to be your parents. We know we don't get it right a lot, but we try as hard as we can and stay humble. We are learning as you learn. We try to teach you what we know, but soon you will be teaching us. We are both happy and apprehensive about that. I just hope you remember that we are smart too. 

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.