Play ball....

While today marks the opening season of major league baseball, our baseball season opener was almost two weeks ago.  And it would be an understatement to say we have been eating, breathing and sleeping baseball.  

In the last 10 days we've had 7 baseball games.  While I attempt to just keep the uniform washed and not misplaced between games, the boys are loving each and every minute of it.

Grandpa Chip pretending to swing the bat like our slugger Gabriel

While Gabriel's been playing baseball for the past 4 years straight, we were excited this year to hear Michael's interest in playing return.  We now have two little league players and that means twice the fun right.  Dad agreed to assistant coach both teams so between the twice a week practices and games on top of it, it would be suffice to say we live (almost) at the ball park.

This year Gabriel decided he wanted to try out for the minors, the next level up primarily reserved for the 9,10 and 11 year olds.  Dad was confident he would make the team, I, being a nervous Nellie, wondered if it would be too much for him.  Of course he's proven me wrong, Dad was right and he was one of only 3 8-year olds who made it.  It's been a good decision.  Playing in the minors has been a great growth opportunity for Gabriel as he gets to learn from older players who are more experienced, better hitters and fielders.  In the season opener he hit his first in the park home run.  He was so ecstatic he crossed over home plate and threw his fist pumps into the air (think Snookie from Jersey Shore).  We were all pretty happy and proud of him (we'll work on reminding him of modest celebrations in the future).

Even after we got home he was still smiling from ear to ear after his big hit!

Michael has also learned a lot this year, not having played since he was three.  While our social butterfly, it doesn't hurt that some of his best friends and all of our neighborhood kids are on the team.  Its been a good confidence booster for Michael and been fun watching him get into the sport so much.  While the snack after the game is very high on the list of reasons why he's into baseball, I see him trying to swing hard and learning as much as he can.  Currently his favorite position to play is "outfield" because it is still a very important part of the team but not as many balls come his way. Meanwhile his brother is harping on his dad to see when he will get to pitch the next game (he is not a pitcher).  When he plays outfield, our golden retriever-esk Gabriel feels like he's missing out.  

Mighty Michael up to bat!

Buddies getting ready to go to the ball park!

While the boys LOVE being a part of the game and team, I've been enjoying all the company that has been accompanying us to the game.  My parents, sister and her fiance and my aunt and uncle from Iowa were here visiting last week and they so kindly attended 5 of the games in a row.  Thankfully the weather was gorgeous and I don't think they minded the sunshine and 75 degree weather (sure beats the winter they'd been experiencing for the previous 6 months back home).  The boys were thankful they attended and I was so thankful for all the extra help with Isabelle- the girl NEVER stops moving.  Nana and Papa were able to come to opening day too and I think the boys felt proud they had one of the largest cheering sections. 

And that leads me to Isabelle.  While I would love to give a detailed recap of the games, highlighting the hits, the amazing catches that secured the final out in the game and the number of hits each boy had, honestly I can't tell you much about the games.  Why you ask?

It's all because of that blue eyed beauty below.

Isabelle's a huge fan of baseball too.  Not so much the game, watching the game or even paying attention to anything resembling a game involving a baseball.  What she is a fan of is running around the entire field, not once or twice, but at least three times a game.  Spending at least a third of the time outside the men and women's restroom where the water fountain is that sprays over the side of the fountain and gets her wet  soaked.  She's also a fan of climbing the chain fence to see how high she can get before mom races over and pulls her down, playing in the chalk shed that the league directors leave open during games (I now find chalk everywhere).  She's also a fan of climbing on the bleachers to the top seating level and then trying to jump off; she has no fear.  And usually those are the activities she participates in within the first 30 minutes of arriving at the park.

Isabelle and her buddy Isaac taking turns jumping off the bleachers.

I've brainstormed a list of many things to bring with us to keep her entertained.  I've brought stickers, sticker books, play-dough, colors, coloring books, whistles, necklaces, stuffed animals, blankets, puzzles, talking books, side walk chalk, bubbles, snacks, more snacks and even other kinds of snacks.  While almost every other younger sibling at the park is interested in playing with our toys/games/snacks, Isabelle's only modestly impressed.  Actually she's not impressed at all.  She's usually running off while my mom (thank Goodness she was here) entertained the other kids.  Honestly speaking, I think the other parents were thankful for my mom playing with our goodie bag of toys.  Seriously one of my neighbors came by our house today to say how thankful one of Michael's teammates parents were that my mom entertained their son at the last two games.

One of the moments we entertained her with stickers. While her friend Frankie sat there for 30 minutes, it wasn't two minutes after this picture was taken that Isabelle was gone.

I'm continuing in my search of finding the right items to bring along to the game.  At tonight's game, I was by myself with Michael, Isabelle and the dog (of course we'd have to take him along too) and I was so thankful she sat in her chair for the first hour of the game.  I won't go into detail that she was in a 5 point harness in the stroller than kept her from climbing out and that I bribed her with Star-bursts, peanut butter crackers, a special water bottle, play-dough, and stickers.  I thought about pinching myself to see if it was a dream and than I realized why I had been so successful.  It's because of that amazing piece of technology pictured below...

As long as I've got a good battery and Mickey Mouse clubhouse playing on my phone, life is good.  I'm a bit scared to see how much my bill is going to be as it is streaming the video the whole time.  I keep telling myself it will be worth it.

With 7 games down that means we only have 67 more to go.  Okay maybe not that many, but whose counting.  Here's hoping I get more pictures like the one below.  This is one of the only pictures I have of Gabriel playing.  And this is the picture that stopped the whole game. Yes, you read that correctly.  My photography stopped the entire game and it wasn't because I'm such a great photographer.   Who knew you can't take flash pictures behind home plate.  Yep, this mom had no clue.  After having the ump stop the game, walk over to me at the fence behind home plate and give me a stern warning not to do it again, I completely embarrassed, walked back to my seat and pretended I wasn't the only one who didn't know that was against the rules.

After the game that night Gabriel said, "Mom- why did you have to stop the game and have the ump talk to you? That was really embarrassing." I didn't say much and all I thought in my brain was "awesome (not really).

Until next time, I'll be at the ball park if you need anything.
Angie

Mini Me...

Fridays are one of my favorite days of the week.  Not only because it leads into the weekend, but because it is also a day Belle and I get to spend lots of quality time together. While she's one of my favorite people in the whole world, I think I rank pretty high on her list of favorite people too.

Today has been one of those fantastic days when I can't think of anything better than spending the day together.  Our day started at 2:30 this morning with Belle calling for me in the middle of the night.  While I think she tries to sell me on the idea she really needs a drink, secretly I tell myself its because she misses me.  The second reason makes it easier for me to wake up from a deep sleep, trudge to her room, carry her back and cuddle with her while I resign myself to the fact that I'm not going to sleep well, and that by the time she's made herself comfortable, my head will be hanging off the side of the bed and she'll be kicking me in the stomach (that's just how things go).

After waking up and getting the boys off to school, Belle and I went to my parents house to clean it.  While I tried to distract her by putting on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, usually a sure thing in TV-sitting (my term for my endearing back up sitter), today she was not interested.  She wanted to be with me and help clean.  So we attempted to clean.  She insisted on vacuuming and as I watched her taking charge, I realized I was watching a mini me.  Every action, a mimic of me.  From the way she tossed the cord up on her shoulder so it doesn't get sucked up by the vacuum, to the manner in which she pushed the machine. 

After getting home and getting ready for the day, I was brushing my hair and my teeth while Isabelle strolled around the bathroom talking non-stop.  While she usually puts Minnie Mouse on the potty and gives orders to go, I confess, I wasn't watching her every move.  And then after spitting out the toothpaste and wiping my face, I looked over to see this...

And this...

 Yes, that is my mascara all over her face.

 When I was finally able to vocalize what I was looking at, I said, "Isabelle, what did you do?"

To which she simply replied, "Pretty, Mom, Pretty!"

I quickly cleaned her up (of course after taking a few pictures to capture the moment in history), and couldn't help but think again about her copying my actions.  Every morning as I get ready Isabelle stands in the bathroom, talking, singing, moving all around.  I don't think she pays much attention to what I'm doing, turns out, I'm wrong.  Hence the mascara all over.  While I was thankful she didn't try eating it, I do have to say I was impressed she knew where to put it (or attempt to).  

And then, after getting ready, we had to run a couple of errands and that leads me to my favorite moment of the day.  Arriving outside the store, I turned the car off, walked around the van to Isabelle's side of the car and opened the door.  She greeted me with a huge smile, you know; the smile you give your best friend when you haven't seen them for several months.  Before I could say anything she shouted, "MOMMY!" and then she said, "Love you!"  Of course it sounded move like LUV U, but it was clearly love you and it completely melted my heart.  

Each night before bed, Isabelle and I have the routine of getting her jammies on, brushing her teeth, getting her blankies and then a drink.  After that lengthily to do list, we sit in the recliner chair and "rock you"  Most people call it rocking, Isabelle believes its called "rock you".  She got that from me asking her, "Do you want to go to bed or do you want me to rock you?"  Her answer, always the same, "Rock you."  So that's what we do.  While we rock, I sing her songs or read her books, and sometimes, most of the time actually, we sit in complete silence and just enjoy cuddling together.  Each and every night as I stroke her hair, gently touch her cheeks or just hold her hand, I bend my mouth down to her ear and softly whisper three words, "I love you."  

Before this afternoon, never before has she initiated a "love you" on her own.  Today that changed.  And just like the first time she smiled at me and I had to call my mom I was so excited, today's expression of love felt just as incredible.  

Isabelle Grace or my little mini me, I hope you know how wonderful you make our lives.  How you make us laugh, makes us give thanks and make us see the world in an exciting and interesting way.  We love love love you!

Until next time,

Angie

seven

Today Michael turned seven.  

While I won't rehash the same feelings I have each and every year about them getting so much bigger and the time going by faster than I want it to, I do want to rehash the feelings we have about our second son, Michael.

Of all the year's I've been Michael's mom (almost 4 now) I can honestly say I've never felt more like he is growing up right in front of my eyes.  Not only has he stretched out and grown so much taller, but he's also growing in his personality too.  Becoming more and more independent, more and more inquisitive about life, and as crazy as it sounds, I feel like I'm seeing glimpses of a future adult Michael.

While in the past years, Michael has liked anything his older brother has enjoyed by often following in the footsteps of Gabriel.  This year, I've seen Michael become confident and accepting in having different interests and likes, and even proud when Gabriel becomes interested in something he likes.  It has also been fun to see Michael take pride in the activities he excels in.  Just one example of this is in the crazy that is rubber band bracelets.  Of all the rainbow loomers in our house, Michael is by far and away the best rubber band bracelet creator we have.  All of us, turn to him when we get stuck.  It makes me so happy to see Michael growing in his self confidence.

This year has also given me the chance to see Michael try new things and put himself into new situations.  Not only did he start a new school (along with his brother) but he also particpated in Karate and is now returning to baseball for the first time since he was three.  While he's always been hestitant to change, I see him embracing it and growing into the nerves that new experiences can bring with them.  As someone myself who is compeltely resistant to change, I am happy to see him learning to adapt and gain comfort in it.

When I think about our Michael and the oh so important part he plays to our family, I have to give thanks to God for letting us be his parents.  Michael is so funny, our comic relief and reminds us to not take life to seriously.  And he's not only our comedian, but he's oh so smart.  He can read something and remember it not just for the hour or the day.  He has a memory that doesn't forget.  He's driven, determined (some may say stubborn) and he's extremely inquisitive.  All qualities I think very important in life.

And while I could continue for hours listing all of the qualities I find so endearing and loving about Michael, the quality I love the most about him, is how deeply he cares.  When Michael loves someone, he will do what ever he has to to show them his love, to have their back and to put their needs well above his own. He does this daily with his brother and always with his baby sister.  A perfect example of this is tonight at his brithday dinner, the waiter had brought him a cookie with ice cream on top.  Immedidatly Gabriel asked where his was, not remembering it was not HIS birthday. While I reminded Gabriel it was Michael's birthday and that is why he got a special treat, Michael quickly scooped up the first bite of cookie and ice cream on his spoon and handed it over to Gabriel.  And then after that, he scooped up another bite of his yummy treat and shared it with his sister.  Not taking the first, nor the second bite for himself, but puting his loved ones ahead of himself and shared his treat.   That is the character of my son, my son I'm so proud of and love more than he will ever know.

Michael, we all hope your birthday was special and that your seventh year is your best yet.  Dad, Gabriel, Isabelle and I love you so much and we are so thankful for you in our lives.  You are so smart, so kind, generous, selfless and compassionate.  Your eyes tell wonderful stories and your expressions are priceless.  Michael, as the middle child, we know you often let your older brother and younger sister bask in the attention.  Please know we take note and admire your love for them.  Michael, you are a wonderful brother and an outstanding son.  You are one of the three greatest gifts I was ever given in my life.  What an honor it is to be your mom.  I love you yesterday, today, tomorrow and always.... 
Mom

Spring Break Schenanigans

This week is Spring Break and without having any exciting destination to go to, we instead are coming up with every possibly activity to partake in to keep the kids from going crazy.  Actually, scratch that.  That sentence should read, "we are coming up with every possible activity to keep MOM from going crazy.  Just joking!  Okay, maybe not. 

The activities started last weekend when Michael wanted to make comic books.  A couple of years ago, Aunt Megan and Uncle Adam gave Michael a Spider Man kit to make actual comic books with the kids' own pictures using a software online.  Just a few weeks ago, we found the instruction manual again so on Saturday morning we went to work printing new comics for the kids to color in.  With most activities that involve their creativity, it wasn't too long before the boys started brainstorming ways they could turn their efforts into an entrepreneurial endeavor. Soon, there were talks about creating as many comic books as they could and selling them to everyone in the neighborhood and to their family for at least $20 a piece.  (Secretly I love their entrepreneurial spirit and wish I had more of their risk taking qualities.  Who knows maybe some day they will be starting their own actual business).  

After the comic book making activity commenced, the kids were looking for the next grand activity.  And knowing a tent is always a ton of fun, we decided to set the tent up for some living room camping.  All three of them, and possibly a few of the neighborhood kids, LOVED it!  At one point, our two person pop up tent looked more like a clown car at a circus.  And with the barrels of laughs coming from inside the netted canopy, it was clear, the kids were having a blast.  Right in the comforts of our own home. 

And when one camps, why not practice one's artistic skills.  The kids then decided to brush up on their sketching skills.  Gabriel drew an elephant in the tall dry grass. Michael decided to go all Van Gogh on me and sketched a human body.  And Isabelle, well, we think she painted a bus.  Its similar to a Jackson Pollock masterpiece, and if you stare at it long enough, I do think there is a chance a bus could be in her drawing.  

Living room camping wasn't all that we did.  We also created masterpiece projects using tiny plastic beads, which we formed into shapes and melted to fit together.  The boys had done this during their after school program last year and were super excited to try it again.  Gabriel created a star necklace and a Raven's color cross.  Michael designed Mickey Mouse and a Dallas Cowboys star.  They are determined to keep creating more pieces so they can add them to their "gallery"  and sell them to make money.  

Isabelle was fascinated with what they were doing, but keep getting pulled away by her favorite new pastime. 

Concentrating very hard.

Proud of his finished product!

The Mickey Mouse and Star necklace the boys made on the table.  Along with the 11,000 tiny beads, many of which visited our floor before being returned to their original home.

Here's what Isabelle enjoyed this spring break.  Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!  She'd watch Mickey all day, even though we don't let her.

One other activity we enjoyed this week, to my surprise, was baking.  This morning when we all got up, the boys asked me if they could make me breakfast.  Did I mention I was surprised?  While I ended up making breakfast for all of us, the boys were determined they wanted to make something so I let them.  Michael decided immediately he wanted to make Orange-Ade (his favorite combo of Lemonade and Orange Juice).  He immediately got to work making it as he's done it before and knew all the steps.  Meanwhile Gabriel was sitting at the kitchen table, reading my cookbooks.  After finding what he determined to be the perfect recipe, he showed me it and asked if we had all the ingredients.  I reviewed it and said yes, and both boys were off, ready to make Chocolate Chip Cookies.  Gabriel had picked a recipe I had never used and while my instinct was to tell him to make the recipe I usually make, I held my tongue and let them enjoy every minute being in charge and doing it on their own.  While I stood in the kitchen and answered questions when asked (Mom, which one is a teaspoon?, What is VAN-ILL-A?" ), I let the boys do it all.   

My two proud bakers and the little taste-tester!

And let me say, words do not express how proud I am/was of their efforts.  They followed the recipe exactly as it was written and stopped to ask questions when they were unsure.  While they really wanted to make the cookies right away, they followed the recipe and put the dough in the fridge for 2 hours to chill before baking.  Gabriel was so excited, while waiting for the two hours to pass by, I think he was having a hard  time thinking of anything other than the warm, chewy, M&M filled cookie goodness. He repeated 7 times in one hour, Mom I can't WAIT to eat those cookies!  After two hours of waiting and three baking pans in the over, the cookies were done.  Not only did they turn out better than what I can normally make, they are the tastiest cookies I've had in a long time.  Who would have thought to put vanilla pudding in the batter.  Kudos to Gabriel, he found himself a great recipe and to Michael for being a great ingredient measurer. 

And boy were they proud.  When the neighbor kids came over to play, the first thing Gabriel said to them was, "Would you like to try one of the cookies Michael and I made?  We think they are really good!"  And their friends were sold.  After eating one of the boy's cookies, I overheard Harlen whisper to Gabriel, "Gabriel, I think your cookies are really really really good!  Do you think I can have 12 more?"  

It may seem like a silly thing to be so proud of.  The fact that my boys baked a batch of cookies, not only makes me extremely proud but it also means a lot.  I've always liked cooking and baking and to see them take an interest in something I enjoy,is heart-warming.  In addition to that, I could tell that the boys' desire to bake cookies, was an effort to do something nice for me.  I guess my love of cookies isn't too well hidden.  Throughout the day, Gabriel and Michael were so expressive in their love.  Gabriel spontaneously walked up to me, hugged me and said, "Mom- I love you." several times, and Michael told me to sit on the couch, relax and let him do something for me.  How nice can it get?  This mom is so proud of her kids, especially her boys.

While this spring break, our destinations were not far and our plans as simple as simple can be.  Yet, our goal was the same as those families off enjoying wonderful vacations from afar.  In a world that has gotten so full of responsibilities, so full of commitments and booked schedules, a world where an unscheduled child is a rarity, this spring break we're turning things upside down.  For us, it's been a week of unscheduled play, a week of fun in doing what you want, when you want.  And its been the time to just let kids be kids.  Isn't spring break the best?  If you're not sure what the answer to that questions is, just ask my boys and me, we'll be sure to tell you!

Until next time,

angie

Transportation Day....

A few weeks ago, I took the kids to Transportation Day.  While I had heard of it a couple of years ago,  we never seemed to make it.  And to my surprise it is a huge event.  As we drove toward the preschool that hosts the event, it was clear, everyone else in the 15 mile vicinity decided to attend with their family. After parking and walking for what the boys termed, "forever", we arrived.  

The kids waiting for the "surprise" helicopter landing.  Gabriel wasn't convinced yet, that this was going to be fun!  Isabelle and Michael, were on board much sooner.

Boy am I glad we went.  It was fantastic.  Imagine every possible transportation vehicle in one place.  From the UPS man, to a hot air balloon, a police car, to an army truck.  There's even a Jeep car with a million tiny figurines all over it.  Why you ask?  I have no idea, but Michael was thrilled to look, I mean touch as many of the figurines as he could.  He even pulled down the " please do not touch" sign to touch some sea shell bikini woman doing the hula.  Its really hard to resist touching that right? Other than the trinket covered Jeep that wasn't supposed to be touched, every other vehicle, balloon, helicopter or huge dirt mover was meant to be crawled on, pretend driven and investigated in every possible manner.

Michael and Gabriel were very interested in learning about the police car.  Michael looked around the entire car and made the police officer show him how his computer worked.  And then after that, he insisted on crawling in the back of the car.  Needless to say, Mom and Michael had a LONG talk about that should be the ONLY time he is in the back of a police car!

Some of the highlights included a helicopter landing right in front of us, getting to be up close and personal with a hot air balloon as they filled it up, and the army truck.  What was even better was running into our neighbors/friends that we got to enjoy the event with.

 While the boys were completely skeptical of my "Saturday morning surprise", turns out at the end of our stay at Transportation Day they were so excited, they didn't want to leave and begged me to bring them back next year.

Fun in the back of an army truck!

While I've learned my days of coming up with fun things to do; things Mom thinks are fun, are becoming fewer and fewer in the eyes of the boys,  I'm proud to say Mom scored a win on this one.

Until next Transportation Day,
Angie

Those endearing moments...

I love my children, but there are some moments, when I question my sanity and secretly, its sometimes because of them. 

They make me feel a rich love in ways I never knew I could.  And just as they make me feel love, they also make me feel frustration, anger and impatience.  I thinks it’s a part of the package deal.  The good with the bad, right?  And while they can make me crazy sometimes, they also redeem themselves in some of the sweetest, most loving moments.  They are moments, you can’t even dream up.

Take for example this morning.  My son made me lunch.  Yes, I did say that correctly.  My son, Gabriel, made me lunch.  He knows in our usual race out the door that breakfast is usually something I hold off on until I can get to work and scarf down a PopTart  to make it through the morning.  And then, since I’m usually off of work by 2:30 in the afternoon, so I can race home to meet them from the bus, I wait to eat lunch until I get home.  Usually this entails me starving from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and eating snacks throughout the day so I’m not so famished. 

This morning, Gabriel was ready as normal, 20 minutes before we were ready to leave for school.  While I raced around trying to hold Isabelle still enough to put her shoes and jacket on, and then helped Michael find all the necessities for his backpack, that never seem to end up in his backpack, Gabriel was in the kitchen.  I thought he was still cleaning up his cereal.  As we walked out the door, I called for everyone to jump in the car, no surprise we were racing against the clock.  As Gabriel reached the car, he held in his hand a grocery sack tied shut.   He held it out and said, “Here mom, I made you a lunch.”  I was caught…completely… off… guard.    Wow, I said, honey that is so nice.  Thank you so much.  He smiled, and as he crawled in the car he said, “Mom, I packed you a carrot, some grapes and a yogurt.  And I didn’t even forget the spoon!”    While I think my heart stopped for a moment, it was so struck with love, I smiled, reached out for the lunch and said thank you.  That my friends, is one endearing moment. 

And then there is Michael.  Who, on Sunday, selflessly shared his ice cream cone with Isabelle, so she would be distracted and not eat Gabriel’s.  He said, “Here Isabelle, you can have my ice cream cone. Gabriel I don’t want you to be sad that you don’t have very much left.”  All without prodding or encouragement.  All actions straight from his heart to show love to another.  It is moments like this, that I stand at a distance and beam pride. 

 While Isabelle’s moments of endearment are different, surprising and oh so wonderful.   It’s the moments she runs up to me while I’m making dinner and grabs my leg so tightly, I can tell the love she feels is just waiting to burst out of her tiny body.  Her expressions of love are shown through fierce squeezes of the leg or the face and through sloppy kisses that leave their lasting mark.  And her other moments of endearment….  She now speaks in full sentences.  And oh are they are so cute!  This weekend, she carried around a huge crate of play-doh and her toys.  When she realized she didn't have the strength to put the crate up and onto the table, she shouted, “Michael, HELP ME!”  Jarrett and I were both standing there and he looked at me in surprise.  “Was that her first sentence?”  I said, she’s been working on putting more words together for the last couple of weeks, so I’m not sure if it was her first.  But I can say, she was pretty clear in what she wanted through that sentence huh?”  And then this morning, on our way to school, her morning routine is to point out all of the buses on the way.  I didn't even realize it, but soon after passing one of the bus stops where a green city bus was waiting, we heard Isabelle happily announce, “BUS, I SEED YOU!”  Wow, when did we move onto using proper tenses in sentences? See what I mean by surprising?  It’s the funny things, the continuous new developments she shows us.  Simple reminders of how the world appears to her and how she chooses to express herself.  All innocent, all very powerful and purposeful feelings of expression. Moments that melt my heart.

Those endearing moments.... oh how I love thee.

Until next time,

Angie

I'm a little tea pot...

One of the gifts Isabelle received for her birthday was a tea set.  Along with that she received pretend food and place sets.  Isabelle loves it.  Actually all the kids love it.

The first morning after getting the gifts, we woke up to find the boys wanted to visit their restaurant.  One was the chef and one was the waiter.  Isabelle, Dad and I were the customers.

While the day's to do list was longer with more items than we'd ever get accomplished in one day, Dad and I looked at each other and knew the to do list had to wait.  So for more than 2 hours we played "restaurant"  with the kids taking turns making us cupcakes and hotdogs, steak and tomatoes, watermelon and ketchup and of course all of it was served with tea.

I remember sitting at their tiny table and thinking, these are the moment I'm going to miss.  These are the moments that make my heart flow with happiness.

Until next time,
angie