The things we take for granted...

I've been meaning to post about this topic for several weeks now and everytime I think to do it, the boys do some other adorably cute or interesting behavior that I blog about that instead.

Before I forget though, I just have to share about one of the things I take for granted that Gabriel and Michael don't: Groceries.

A few days after we brought the boys home, our refrigerator was running low on supplies and our pantry was missing a few key items so I decided to take my first trip to the grocery story with Michael. Daddy stayed home with Gabriel as we thought it might be easier to have just one little guy at the store instead of two. As Michael and I walked (well Michael rode) up and down the isles, Michael's eyes were wide-open staring at all of the food and supplies. As I filled our cart he continued to watch in a quiet awe as passed each item. And when we checked out,they bagged all of our supplies and his excitement grew. He said, "Mommy, I can't wait to show Gabriel all our stuff!" Not thinking much about his comment we loaded everything up in the car and headed for home.

Michael graciously helped me carry in some of the bags including the ones with the toilet paper (who knew we'd go through so much TP), paper towels (yet another important supply) and the cereal (one of their favorite foods). When Daddy and Gabriel saw us loaded down with supplies they joined the troops in carrying in all the groceries. All in the kitchen, Michael shouted, "Gabriel, look what Mommy and Daddy got us?" as he gently pulled out item after item from the bag and proudly held it up to show his brother. At which Gabriel responded, "Mom, thank you so much for getting us cereal." "Mommy, thank you very much for getting us paper towels" "Mommy, I love you for getting us toilet paper, that was so nice of you." And on and on. By the time they reached the second to last bag, it hit me.

Gabriel and Michael probably haven't always had these basic supplies. Seeing their faces light up like they had just opened up the biggest present to find a brand new shiny bike, when in reality, they were simply holding a bottle of Tide, made my heart ache. I am confident that when I was their age I never thought to say to my mom, "Thanks for buying me toilet paper and laundry detergent so you can wash my clothes mom." I'm sure when I was their age I was "that" child in the grocery store asking my mom for everything in sight and then throwing a tantrum when she said no for the 50th time.

To think that a 3- and a 4-year old would be so thankful for having such basic supplies, makes me count my blessings that we get to be their mom and dad. That night after putting the boys to bed, Jarrett and I talked in depth about how impressed, amazing and stunned we were that the boys would be so expressively thankful for just our basic groceries. We wondered if their reaction was just a fluke since everything was new or if it really was a showing of their appreciation.

The next week and every week since then, the boy's reaction has been the same. "Wow, mom you bought me milk, that is so nice!" "Daddy, thank you so much for the grapes and bananas." "Michael, we are so lucky to get to stay with Mommy and Daddy cause look at all the stuff they bought us to eat." "Mommy, thank you for the onions." and on and on and on.

I use to dread the grocery store because it seemed no matter what day or time I went, it was always crowded and filled with people in a hurry. Now I look forward to going to the grocery store, not because our grocery bill have doubled, but because of the reaction I know I'll receive when I get home.

You are very welcome Gabriel and Michael for those basic supplies. Thank you for being so appreciative and reminding me not to take the most simple of things for granted.

Until next time,
Angie

It's raining, it's pouring, the boys are outside playing...

Today in the desert something happened which doesn't happen all that often... we had a rain storm, or in desert terms, a monsoon.

Although many of the streets were flooded which caused traffic headaches for many, two little boys couldn't have been more happy. Being from the mid-west where it seems to rain every other day, we usually stayed inside and played when it rained. That is not the case if you are a little boy or girl growing up in Arizona. When it rains and pours there's nothing better to do than go outside and jump in the rain...

Until next time, may all your rain showers be happy showers,

Angie

Daddy's Toys

When Daddy was a little boy some of his favorite toys were matchbox cars. He and his brothers would play for hours in the backyard of their home racing them, pretending to be driving the cars and competing to see who had the best one.

As Daddy grew bigger, the time he spent playing with matchbox cars unfortunately grew shorter. In the time I've been married or dating him, I don't think I've ever seen him play with the small cars. I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this but with the addition of Gabriel and Michael to our house, Daddy's time of playing with little cars has returned, and boy is he loving it.

The boys have been given several matchbox cars of their own that they enjoy playing with. They race them along the walls, refrigerator, dishwasher, cupboards, beds, basically everywhere but on the floor (where they should race them) in our home.

This past weekend, Jarrett and I were able to add to the boy's excitement of their small collection of cars by going up into the attic and bringing down all of the cars Daddy use to play with as a little boy. Thankfully Nana and Papa (his mom and dad) saved many of the toys Jarrett played with as a boy and after we were married they gave them to us so we could someday let our children play with them.

For the past 7 years, every time I would climb into the attic or into our storage closet, I would see the boxes marked "Jarrett's childhood toys" . Each and every time I would see the boxes my heart would ache that we didn't have anyone to share them with. This past weekend we were able to fulfill yet another hope and dream by dusting off the boxes and bringing them down to share with our boys.

You would have thought it was Christmas yet again at the Haskovec house. Gabriel, Michael and Daddy spent hours carefully inspecting each car, taking inventory of how many cars they had total and racing them to see which ones are the fastest. It didn't matter that some of the cars had all of their paint scratched off, or if a car was missing a door. For the boys they felt so lucky to be able to play with their Daddy's toys and for their Daddy, he was able to reminisce about his wonderful youth and celebrate his blessings of two wonderful sons that he can share part of himself with.

I'm sure we'll have many more Matchbox Saturdays (and Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays; well you get the point). I'm so happy for Jarrett to be able to share this with his boys, as I can see the pride and happiness he has in getting to celebrate this special dream he's carried in his heart for so long too.

Here's some photos of a Daddy having fun with his boys....

Until next time,

Angie

Cheers!

Somewhere, sometime, someplace, the boys must have seen someone doing "cheers" at the dinner table. Last night when we were eating dinner Gabriel asked if we could "cheers." Daddy agreed and we cheered to our family.

This morning I made banana french toast and as usual, we served the boys first while Daddy and I finished getting our plates together. Daddy and I must have gotten a little distracted talking about something because the boys started taking amongst themselves. With the sounds of their glasses clinking together Jarrett and I stopped talking and looked over to see Gabriel and Michael doing "cheers" at the table. Gabriel said, "Cheers Michael for getting to stay with Mommy and Daddy." "Yea Gabriel that's a good cheers."

The cheers proceeded to turn into more cheers all for the following things...

"Cheers Michael for staying with Grandpa Chip and Grandma Darlene."
"Cheers Gabriel for staying with Nana and Papa"

"Cheers for staying with Uncle Adam, Uncle Nolan, Uncle Jeremy and Uncle Jonas"

"And our cousins."

"Oh yea and more cheers for Aunt Megan, Aunt Trisha and Aunt MaeLyn!"

"Oh yea cheers for staying forever with Jack"

"Oh Gabriel, what about Grandpa Ray, Grandma Dorrie and Grandma Hazel, cheers to them too okay?"

"Michael let's cheer our whole big big big big big new family."
"Yea!"

Sometimes we forget to count our blessings. Gabriel and Michael reminded us this morning, we have so many things to be thankful for. Cheers to all of them!

Until next time,

Angie

Mom, will you ask God...

When you were a child did you listen to what was said in church? I'm kind of ashamed to admit it, but as a kid I don't remember listening to anything that was said in church. I guess I always thought that what ever was being said was only for adults. I did know though, that I was suppose to be quiet and sit patiently until the last "Amen" song and then we could go home.

I guess I just assumed the same situation would happen with Gabriel and Michael when we took them to church. However, after the last few weeks I've found out that not only are Gabriel and Michael sitting quietly while we are in church, but they are also listening attentively.

Every week at church before communion the priest recites the Communion Rite and talks about the Body and Blood of Christ. For the last few weeks every time Gabriel and Michael hear the word blood they turn to me and whisper "Mom, why did he say blood?" I whisper back that I'll explain later and we move on with the rest of the service. Until last week, I had forgotten to explain to the boys why Father Gary always says that and so I did my best to explain the whole story of why God died for us. Trying to explain such a complex story in 3- and 4-year-old terms was quite a challenge, so I tried to simplify it by saying, "God died so that we can live and when he passed away he was bleeding. That is why they say body and blood of Christ." The boys seemed to understand it at that point, but now they are truly inquisitive about God, Jesus Christ and Heaven. In the car today we had a conversation about Heaven. It went like this...

Michael: "Mom, tell me the story about God and Grandma Virginia?"
Me: "Well Michael, God wanted Grandma Virginia to join him in Heaven so she passed away to go and be with him."
Gabriel: "Why does she live in Heaven?"
Me: "Well she lives there because she wants to be with God."
Michael: "Oh, can I live in Heaven?"
Me: "Um, honey not now, you have to stay here with us for a long long long long long long time. You won't go to Heaven until you are really really really really old okay?"
Michael: "Mom, will you go to Heaven?"
Me: "I really hope so honey but again not for a long long long long long time, okay?"
Michael: "Mom, when you go to Heaven, I will go with you so you don't have to go alone okay?"
Me (with tears in my eyes): "Honey, that is really nice of you to say.
Michael: "Mom, will you ask God if I can go with you?"
Me:"Um, we'lll see honey, I think God will want you to stay here."
Gabriel: "Mom, if we go to Heaven, who will stay in our house?"
Me: "Um, I don't know Gabriel."
Gabriel: "Mom, will you ask God to keep our house for us when we go to Heaven so no one takes it?"
Me: "Sure, now look over there, there's a fire truck."

Thank goodness for distractions. I had no idea Church could bring up so many hard questions. I though at this age they'd only be asking me, "Mom, what's that?" "Mom, can I have this?" "Mom, why do birds fly?" I think I can answer those questions, but the questions I've gotten today; wow, they are keeping me on my toes.

Until next time,
Angie

We LOVE New York and Uncle Nolan!

Uncle Nolan, who moved to New York earlier this summer, came back for the weekend to visit. He brought all of his nephews and niece a gift. Can you guess what it was?

Thanks Uncle Nolan for the gift! We love New York, but we love you more!

Make a hole for the mice mom

Earlier this week the boys and I made a trip to Pet Smart to get Jack, our puppy, some dog food. While we were there the boys studied all of the smaller creatures Pet Smart has available for sale. They have hermits, mice, rats and gerbils, not to mention the birds and the fish. Seriously, it is almost better than the zoo, and comes at pretty much the same cost. The boys watched in awe as the mice and rats scurried around their cages and ran around the wheels that were in their homes.

As we left the store I had the bag of food hanging from my right arm, our 5lb Yorkie in the other (because the pavement is too hot and can burn his feet), Gabriel holding onto my elbow and Michael gripping my pinkie finger. While I was trying to watch for cars to cross the street and maneuvering the craziness in my arms, all I could think about was getting home. The boys, on the other hand though, had all the time they needed to come up with a great idea they keep begging me to go along with.

When we pulled into the garage Gabriel announced, "Oh Mom, I have an idea! When we get inside I'll tell you okay mom?" "Okay Gabriel" thinking he's probably going to ask me for some candy treat or to play some game with him. Upon entering the door he raced off to the kitchen, screaming for me to follow behind him. With my curiosity peaked, I followed, wondering what he was about to tell me. Instead of him jumping at the bit to tell me something, he was bent over looking at the exterior wall and measuring a space with his hands. "Gabriel honey, what are you doing?" "Mom, I'm measuring a hole for the mice." "For what?" "For mice mom." What mice Gabriel?" "Mom, the mice that can live in our house." "Oh really Gabriel, you think we need to have mice in our home?" "Yes Mom, just like me and Daddy and you and Michael and Jack live in our house, we should have mice live in our house too. That's n idea, isn't it mom?" "Oh yes, Gabriel that is quite the idea." "See Mom, we can cut a circle in the wall here so the mice can come in and out to eat and go potty" "Well I'm just happy that they have to go outside to go potty" "Oh yes mom, they're too little to go potty in the big potty. They can go outside just like Jack" "Um Gabriel that is a great idea but I think we'll let the mice live somewhere else, we just don't have room in our house for mice. "Mom, can they live in someone else's house?" "Um, I don't know anyone who would like to have mice in their house." "But where are they going to live?" "Outside" "But mom, it is too hot outside." "Um..." running out of answers and not sure how to end the conversation all I could think to say was... "Yea, maybe you should ask Daddy where they can live because honey, mommy doesn't want mice living in our house." "Okay mom, when is dad coming home from work?"

Thanks Daddy for helping answer this one.

Until next time,
Angie