Chess and ice cream

Yesterday, Jaxon scored!!! And to celebrate, we had dinner at Sushi Station with dessert at Oberweis. 

Blood Moon

I love that you all love science. After talking last night with Jaiden about the Blood Moon/Lunar eclipse, I woke up at 5am. Watch Jaiden gasp with excitement and seeing Jaxon jump out of bed to see it made me happy today. 

Shooting Stars and hot chocolate

At 5:30, I woke up, but forced myself back to sleep...at 5:50, I was startled awake by quiet "MOMMY!" And Jaxon's face next to me. It was the Orionids meteor shower and we had great clear morning skies to catch a few shooting stars. I'd never seen one and as much as Jaxon scared the crap out of me, it was so endearing to see him wake up the whole house so we could all experience it together. So in the dark of this chilly 42 degree morning, we wandered out side and saw 2 shooting stars and 2 quickly moving "stars". We used my app to identify constellation and when the sky lightened and the stars dimmed, we went inside for hot chocolate. That's what made me happy today. 

Remembering to document everyday moments

I know I am not good at taking the time to write, otherwise, my book would have been written by now. I was feeling like I have to say something insightful or meaningful or thoughtful in this blog, and that is what was hampering the progress before. I have to keep reminding myself that this is about remembering and celebrating what made me happy everyday. Many times it is just a simple moment that makes me smile or appreciate life in this family. 

This is what made me happy yesterday...Miss Morgan cutting your hair on her driveway. A friend helping out another friend. 

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.