Puddle Jumpers

I can't remember the conversation exactly, but I remember the 4 of us—Traci, Adele, Christine and myself—sitting around discussing the virtues of motherhood and the kind of childhood we hoped to provide for our children. I believe it was Traci who spoke of how she wanted her children to be able to jump in a mud puddle and not be thinking in the back of her mind about the inevitable laundry or baths that would later ensue. Somewhere along the line, mud puddles became symbolic of a happy childhood between us 4 new moms. Soon after, we began calling ourselves the "Puddle Jumpers".  We didn't have tee shirts made or anything, but whenever one of us would propose a time and place for the next play date, the subject of that email would always be: Puddle Jumpers.

One of the best kept secrets of modern day moms is that we often get more out of play dates than our kids do! They are a chance to be with other moms who share the joys and sorrows of mothering perfect children in an imperfect world! We can vent without judgment, brag without guilt and laugh till we cry—all in the safety of friends who seem much more like sisters.

The above photo of our Puddle Jumpers was snapped by Traci (our resident photographer) at a play date early this summer.  Although none of us moms is in the picture, hopefully you can see our love reflected in the eyes of our children.

The Little Man Turns FIVE!

Birthdays come and go, but every few years or so one comes along that makes us sit up and take notice. For me, the 5th birthday of Wil—the baby of our family—is one of particular significance. It marks the end of an era—not only for him, but for us as his family. And, although it's sad to officially wave good-bye to his baby and toddler-hood, it's amazing to watch him grow into an opinionated, interested, active participant in his own life.

Someone once told me that whichever age your child is at at that moment will be your favorite age; and Wil at age five is no exception! Wil has a heart of gold and I'm not saying that just because I'm his Mom! Ask anyone! The only thing that gets Wil in a bad mood is an itchy tag in his tee shirt or a faulty seam in his sock. Other than that, Wil is an even-tempered, inquisitive, joyful little boy. His big blue eyes brighten the face of anyone who looks his way and his generous heart is something to behold. He is patient, focused and discerning to a fault. 

However, Wil's most endearing quality at age five is his ability to recollect a moment in time with exceptional and uncanny detail.  Although it can take hours for him to find just the right words (i.e. "It hurt just medium, Dad.") to explain the situation, you can be sure this kid tells it like it is! Hopefully, Wil's necessity for precision will serve him (and the rest of the world) well if his desire to become a "welder man" (a.k.a. weatherman) comes to fruition.

Happy birthday, little man!  We love you!

[Click here to see Wil's Invitation.]

As Different As Day and Night!

Ty likes peanutbutter, Wil likes jelly. Ty likes chocolate, Wil likes hard candy. Ty likes Phineas & Ferb, Wil likes Dora & Diego. Ty likes his pizza hot, Wil likes it cold. Ty moves at the speed of light, Wil is more like mollasses in the winter. You get the idea!  Sometimes it seems they disagree just for the sake of argument, but there is no denying that our little men are very different from one another. So, when I occasionally see a glaring similarity, I love to stop for a moment and breath it in.

When brothers agree, no fortress is so strong as their common life. 

                                                                                          [Antisthenes]