Pure happiness

There are moments as a parent that just bring happy tears to your eyes. I experienced many of those moments tonight as I ventured out with my 2 handsome boys for a "date." I took them bowling (1st time for Matthew). We had Icees. We went to browse Party City. And finished the night at McDonald's. Whew! I found myself cheering, dancing and smiling as my boys threw those bowling balls down the lane with such manly strength (or at least they thought so). Joseph said "I am having the best time ever!" Matthew talked more than I've ever heard. My heart smiled as my boys took each others' hands, and ran off laughing together. The pure happiness and love within my heart cannot even be expressed.

Must be all that LOVE in the air

As Matthew was watching a movie, I just stared at his cute little profile and said "You're so cute, Matthew!" And his reply was "No I'm not, Mom. Madison is cute!" He's got it bad :)

I am THAT mom

As I've mentioned before, my oldest has several girlfriends in kindergarten (gulp!), and he often has his "#1 girlfriend" over to our house to play. Well, today as he was crying about not being able to go swimming (the pool is FREEZING) with her, she came over to play while her mom went to get her swimsuit. The "tell what I'm thinking" part of my personality came out, and I blurted out, "Joseph was just crying because he wants to play with you." Um huh? My 5 1/2 year old (going on 25 years old) yelled out "NO I WASN'T!" Way to go, Mom! I've officially entered the stage of parenthood where the parent must "butt out" of situations. Sorry to embarrass you, son...I'll bite my tongue next time :)

Proud big brother

I really wish I had pictures to post, but I forgot my camera as I witnessed one of the sweetest moments between my children this morning. My kindergartener was the "star of the week," and was able to share anyone/anything today, so he decided to share his baby sister and brother :) He was beaming as he answered questions about Elizabeth. Elizabeth, being the ham she is, posed for the teacher's camera and smiled as the class sang her a song. Matthew proudly rose his hand, and shared that his sister is "allergic to eggs." Joseph dearly loves his siblings, and there is no greater gift for a parent than to know this. I takes me back to when Joseph was barely 2 years old sitting in the backseat of our tiny Honda Civic next to newborn Matthew in his carseat. His little voice exclaimed excitedly, "He likes me, Mom! He really likes me!" as Matthew grabbed onto Joseph's finger. The smile on Joseph's face said it all. He was and still is the most PROUD big brother I have ever witnessed.