My Tenderhearted

There's been several times this past year where both boys will randomly bring up Carrie and have a question or two. We've always welcomed their questions and been totally honest with them. I know Cole understands, but there have been several times I wonder if I've only confused Brad more. A small part of me worried that Brad would never remember, but God has proven me wrong.

If anything, Brad remembers her ALL the time. When we drive past the local cemetery, he will tell everyone in the car that his sister is there (she isn't). When we say prayers at night and mention who we are thankful for, he always says "don't forget Carrie in Heaven". As he was walking outside the other day he said "I love you mom, I love you Mickey, I love you Merlin, I love you baby Carrie".

Sometimes I don't know what to do with all his sweet moments.

Today I was working up at the school helping his teacher. They were sitting in circle time and each person had to tell the class what they are thankful for. Lots of kids were thankful for their moms, thankful for school, thankful for their toys. I just happened to walk in when it was Brad's turn. He announced to the class he is thankful for his baby sister Carrie who died.

He's my tenderheart. And he's right. I'm thankful for her too - despite all the pain and heartache, we got to be her family. Thank you God.

Angler

My little Colby has become quite the fisherman. In fact, almost a little obsessed about it. He asks DAILY - several times a day - if he can go fishing. He carries around a tackle box with him and thinks I should always have his poles in the back of the van. Cole's new favorite show is River Monsters and knows all the different kinds of fish to catch around here.

Yesterday he told me that he only wants to play in the JUNIOR World Cup so he can be a professional fisherman too. I kissed his head and said he can be anything he wants to be. Later Cole told me he really wants to do both because if he's a fisherman he can take Brad with him.

Melt.My.Heart.

Family Photo Session

I bought a coupon online last month for a family photo session. We arranged to meet the other night at the park for a quick shoot. The photographer was a cute, quite little girl. She held three jobs and seemed pretty modest. Enter, my boys.



We are in the park and they are running around like monkeys. They are climbing trees and she's really having to chase them to get photos. Brad found a big stick (also known as a tree branch) and was whacking everything in sight. Including a few near misses to her head.

Then she did the worse thing you can do around my children: She let her fear be known. Aunt Kimi will tell you all about that horrible mistake. Sweet photographer said "I hate snakes. If I see a snake, I'll be running the other way FAST!" NO WOMAN!!! You just fed my boys dynamite! As we are all gathered for a family shot, Cole screams out "SNAKE!" and points to her feet to scare her. Lovely.

Continuing our walk around the park she spots a nice rock ledge for the boys to sit for some more pictures. We prop them up there and Cole looks down. I guess someone wrote something on the rock. Then I hear.....

"F. U. C. K. ......... F*ck? F*ck? Am I saying that right? I'm reading it right here. It says f*ck. What's f*ck?"

Then Brad starts piping in - jumping up and down on the rock ledge repeating his newly learned word. We're wonderful parents. Damn Teachers is what I say. Teaching him to READ!

Soon sweet Jessica decided she had enough pictures and told us she will get back with us in a couple of weeks. I'm wondering if we'll ever see her again. Who knows?? Just in case I had Keith take a few more while we were all dressed up. I love those little monsters with all my heart. They keep me laughing. They keep me crazy. They keep my heart full.

















Family pictures 2011 complete!