boy love

"Here, this is for you," he mumbles as he hurries out of the bathroom and up the stairs to join in what is promising to be a Nerf battle royale between father and sons. I continue, dirty cups and stray papers in my other hand, to the kitchen to clean up a little before bedtime. Cups go in the sink, papers to the recycle box, and what is that thing he gave me?

just a pipe cleaner heart.
that he made for me. 
His heart.

I smile faintly and set it on a bookshelf to be admired later and continue with the dishes. Within minutes I am done, and so is the battle. Miraculously there are no tears from the weary soldiers this time. Two boys head for the bathroom, and the third picks a book and notices the pink heart. Lest he think I have just tossed it aside, I call him over.

"That might be the sweetest thing you've ever given me, you know." I whisper.
He snuggles immediately into my arms. This gangly 8 year old wears shoes I could fit into in a pinch. He swears that his life is over if he cannot have his way on a weekly basis. He is loud is his pursuit of justice.There are times I contemplate strangulation.

"Why?" he asks, with a hint of a smile on his lips.
"Because you gave me your heart! I respond. "Maybe some day I will let your wife have it, but for now, it's mine. I'm going to keep this, you know."

"Oh. OK."

This son of mine has a heart the size of Sicily. He notices the smallest of details. He often provides for his brothers before himself. He finds the one right way to do something and strives always for perfection in himself and those around him. There are times I would not change a thing.

small:

potatoes...

 bugs...

flowers...

clusters...

wormies...

creations...

 and of course dogs...

...these are a few of our favorite things, and I have been asked to photograph and subsequently post them that YOU might enjoy these small things as much as we do.

raindrops are falling on (their) heads*

 *credit to B.J. Thomas for the lyrics

decorating the tree

The breakable ornaments are staying in the tote this year, for two reasons.  One: I have 3 boys and 4 cats and one dog (and one husband and one me).  Two: our tree this year is much more "Charlie Brown" than"Clark Griswold."  I love it.

appreciating the mediocre photos

because right now, they're all I have.  Last week my laptop had a midlife crisis and the hard drive committed suicide, taking with it 3 years worth of bookmarks, downloads, and pictures.  For someone who documents the minutiae of life in an attempt to create a virtual memory bank to draw on in old age (seriously.  almost every memory I have of my own childhood is tied to a photo my mom took of that moment.  If she didn't have a camera back then, my memories would be numbered on one hand.), this is devastating.  I have been telling myself that 100 years ago people didn't even have cameras, but it is not helping.  Knowing what I am losing is hard.

                              (last week we also all had the flu.  talk about adding insult to injury. some of us recovered better than others)

people: back up your computers.  It's easy.  It doesn't take long.  You can do it online, or to a separate hard drive.

(one part of the required outfit for an aspiring astronaut: a shirt with the main constellations on it.  self-satisfied smirk not required)

                      (more astronaut gear:
swim vest temperature controlled underlayer,
snowpants space pants,
camo baby mittens and police helmet super special space gloves and helmet. not shown: the backpack full of
water bottles air tanks.)

anyway, here are a few of the pics taken the last few days that would never have made it onto the blog pre-crash.

                      (this particular morning everyone wanted to work at the school table together)

I will not apologize for blur, lack of artistic positioning, or junk in the background.  I will cherish the little memories that each offers, and share them with you.

                                            (we read a lot of books.  we like most of them)

Because really? I bet about 5 people will read this blog, 1 will comment, and nobody will ever nominate me for popular blogger of the month.  So if all I'm doing here is archiving memories for my own personal enjoyment, so be it =)

                                        (mom and baby giraffe. you can pet them if you want.)

Football in the side yard (or: new lense!)

As

"they"

 say,

 It's

all

fun

and

games

until

someone

gets

hurt.

 =)

Memorial (Day) Lane

so. it's been awhile. sorry.  No, really, I am!  I have 200+ new pictures on my computer, and there is no way I will be able to blog about them all.  But Memorial weekend pics I can do.  Enjoy!