Buckle Up!

As I sit here on my last day of Spring Break, I cannot believe that Monday we return to finish up the last nine weeks of school.  This year has been filled with major learning, especially for Warren.  We are so impressed with the things he is learning in Kindergarten.  Not only is he reading like a champ, he's blowing us away with his math and science.  And, equally important in our household....he is learning so much about music and the arts.  He comes home telling us about crescendos and decrescendos and tempo.  Just last week he asked me if we could listen to some jazz, because Ms. Cunningham played some jazz for them in music and he really liked it.

Outside of school, he has been taking a boys gymnastics class this month at the YMCA.  It's been wonderful!  There are four boys, ages 5-12, in the class, with two instructors (one of which is a boy).  He has class just one hour, one night a week for a month.  Then, it starts over again.  It's not competitive at all and he just loves it.  In fact, he sat at home today (during Spring Break) and drew pictures of the rings and the balance beams.

Tuesday night, during one of the breaks, his teacher spoke with Chris for a few minutes.  She said he really has "natural ability" and "strength" and "follows directions (hers anyway) really well."  She said that if he seemed to enjoy it, she would recommend he continue at the Y for another month to learn a few more basics, then he should probably move to a gymnastics club!  Exciting stuff!

But wait!  I have boys.  Boys aren't supposed to be interested in jazz music and gymnastics.  Where are the loud guitars and cute t-ball pictures I had imagined...and that all my friends have?  No, leave it to my boys to listen to Duke Ellington and have pictures in leotards.  Well, I'm learning, yet again, that I don't need to compare my life to my friends' lives.  It's not my plan that is important here; I'm not driving this boat.  God's at the wheel and He's got a much bigger plan for us, I know.  And I'm slowly (very slowly) learning to move aside and let Him take the wheel.  Buckle up!    

A Heart Full of Love

With all the hype of Les Miserables right now (which, I might add is well worth the hype), I thought I might steal a quote.  Tonight could easily have been my own "Les Miserables"...minus all the French Revolution drama.  Chris was teaching a percussion class at Harrison, which left me with both boys.  I had to stay at work until close to 5:00.  So, my afternoon went something like this:

3:00 - start tutoring sessions
3:15 - leave to pick up Harper
3:45-4:15 - wait at the bus stop for Warren's bus, which is supposed to arrive at 4:00 (with Harper in car seat)
4:15 - rush across the street to school when I see the bus pull into the school parking lot; leave Harper in the car, while I jump out to make sure the bus driver knows I'm there
4:20-4:45 - attempt to finish up work, while entertaining the boys in my office
4:45 - head to running club
5:15-6:00 - hung out with Harper and my friend, Jessica, while Warren and his friend, Jack, ran during running club
6:00 - dinner at McDonalds, with Jack and Jessica
7:00 (or whenever we made it home) - bath time
7:30 - breathing treatment for Harper
7:45 - story time
8:00 - bed time

Oh, and, did I mention that I woke up at 4:30 this morning to run the lake with my friend, Stephanie?

So, while that looks and sounds like all kinds of "les miserables"....it was anything but.  I was reminded of how incredibly blessed I am to be the mommy of these two little boys.  Instead of dreading having them at my work and thinking "How am I going to get anything done?"....I got to prance them around and show them off to my friends in my office.  And they could not have been more perfect.

And in the car....they have both really gotten into pop songs.  I will be the first to admit that I generally live in a happy little bubble.  I normally listen to Joy FM...and only Joy FM.  But, lately, I've been testing the waters with pop stations.  And, I am happy to report that not only is my bubble expanding...the bubble my boys live in is expanding as well.  We have our own little dance party in the car...and I like it....a lot!  (Warren started riding the bus from his school to mine and, along with that, comes a lot of new experiences.  I've realized that while I can't shield them from everything, I can talk to them about what they experience and teach them how to handle those things their eyes are opened to.) 

And, at running club...instead of chasing Harper around, checking my clock and thinking "How much longer?"...Harper sat like an angel.  And, when he wasn't sitting, he was being his adorable self and entertaining Jessica and me with his version of "Jesus Loves Me Grass."

And at McDonalds....I watched as they showed both of their very distinct personalities...in a good way.  Little Harper is so friendly towards everyone.  He is so simple and blind to differences.  We could all learn something from his childlike innocence.  And Warren....he is quiet, sensitive, but confident.  While Harper is very social and goes with the crowd, Warren is a leader.  He does what he knows is right.

And at home...as I tucked them in bed, I heard (as I do most nights) "Mommy, will you hang wif us?"  And most nights, I'm sad to admit that Chris and I draw straws to see who has to 'hang.'  (Aside from the fact that Chris wasn't home...) tonight was different.  There was no place I wanted to be more than hanging with them.  So, I laid down on the floor with my iPad, just like we do most nights.  And in a few minutes, Warren climbed out of bed and snuggled beside me, on the floor with just a pillow and a blanket.  Harper wasn't too far behind.  So, there we lay.  Just the three of us....snuggled close to one another, covered with blankets.  And, just when I thought my night couldn't have been any better, Warren took his blanket off and covered me and said "Mommy, I just want to be kind and give things to people who don't have things."  With that, he fell fast asleep.

Harper wasn't quite ready to sleep yet, so he and I went to the family room to rock for a bit.  He settled down soon after and told me he was ready to go to bed.  As I tucked him in and kissed him for the millionth time, he said "Mommy, Jesus is in my heart." And, as my old pastor and dear friend says "and that's the truth!  Amen!" 

Ode to Harper

Batman Harper - clearly very secure in his own skin.

As we celebrate Harper's third birthday, it's hard not to feel blessed by this little man.  Once again, God knew what He was doing.  He gave us straight-laced, structured, rule follower Warren, and then He gave us Harper! 

Aside from hearing that Harper looks just like his momma, the second most popular comment we hear about him is "That kid is hysterical!"  And, they are not kidding.  Anyone who knows Harper, knows he is destined to be the class clown.  He is a straight shooter, tell it like it is, cut to the chase kinda kid.  He has more personality than most his age.  And his expressions....oh, his expressions!  So, while I don't have many funny stories to tell (rather, I have too many funny stories to tell), I thought these pictures would serve as a glimpse into our lives with hilarious Harper.

Grrr!  Go Naughts!

  

Super Harper!

 

And, finally, what is a show without an encore....so, may I present Harper singing Hakuna Matata!  There is not a song that would be more appropriate for him.