The Simple Life

Tonight it is a simple night at our house.  Finally...  We have had weekends of friends and boating and work and school and parties and stuff, so it is nice to finally just, relax.  Yeah, all of those things are fun, but I really, REALLY, just enjoy a night at home watching movies.  Even if the movies are Starsky & Hutch followed by Step Brothers.  I love this.

Connor crashed over an hour ago.  He didn't get a nap today, and for his poor, tired, 3-year-old body, that is just too much.  He needs to nap to stay healthy, to grow and to be happy.  He was anything but happy tonight, but we finally calmed him down with a bath and daddy's lap.  He was out within minutes.

Tyler is laying next to me on the couch, and although I know he doesn't realize it, his foot is touching mine, and I love it, too  He's all cuddled up in a blanket, and every once in a while he snuggles in a little bit more to the blanket he is in, and his foot always comes back to mine.  I adore this.  

I snuck on the computer to read some blogs tonight, and of course had to check out my favorite of all, Enjoying the Small Things.  She is the most inspiring, joyful, happy person I have ever met through a blog before - EVER.  Just reading her posts make me happy and more appreciative of life.  She doesn't complain, doesn't whine, but captures the joy in just the everyday things.  Maybe like we all should.  Today on her blog I found the quote below, and could not pass it up.  It's so true.  This quote made me think about why we are here, what we are doing and what it all means.  Although deep, it's so fitting.  It always makes me think.

What are you here for?

"Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others...for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.” Albert Einstein

Symbolism

I took this picture on Tyler's first day of school.  After I took it, I just started at it, and started thinking back to school myself.

I remember learning so much about symbolism in art and music.  What is happening, and what could be happening?  What could the artist be saying, and what is the artist trying to convey?

Although this wasn't Tyler's bus (since he's in the before and after school program, he takes the bus from daycare still), but I still loved how this turned out.  I love how the older high school girl is standing there, patiently waiting for the doors to open, and how Tyler is positioned pretty far back, yet not as far back as Connor.

I'll let you put the rest of the stories together, but I liked it a lot.  The first day of school went off without a hitch.  When I talked to Tyler that night, he told me about how he a hamburger for lunch and EVEN got KETCHUP TOO!

Well, Tyler, if those are your expectations of kindergarten so far, and they've been exceeded, then I think this year is going to be incredible!

And here we go.....

Tomorrow is the first day of kindergarten for Tyler.  Seriously, kindergarten.  Wasn't this the same boy I just brought home from the hospital, watched take his first steps, soothed when he was sick, and held so close to my heart because everything about him was me and Kyle?  I remember bouncing with him in the middle of the night (for the first year, he HATED the rocking chair), and I remember when he had his tonsils out just after he turned two.  I remember the day he started daycare, and I remember first time he told me "I love you, Mom".  Even then, I thought he was such a big boy, but he was still so little. 

And tomorrow, here we go.  It's kindergarten, where he's such a big boy, yet so little.  The youngest in the school.  He will have to learn how to open his milk, get his lunch on a tray, and make sure he wipes his own butt.  Although he has a great teacher, he's with the big kids now.

We had the "meet the teacher" last night and that was interesting.  The school parking lot is made for about 30 cars, and there were, I'm pretty sure, over 200 there.  We parked partially in the wet grass, and walked towards the hoards of people walked through the doors. 

We finally found out who Tyler's teacher was, and went to her room.  I was so excited myself to meet this woman that would make an impression on his life forever.  I vividly remember my kindergarten teacher, and funny enough, I most remember about her how passionate she was about the pledge of allegiance.  We had to say it every morning when the bell rang - at attention, with our hands on our hearts.  I remember her bouffant hair, and big glasses, and her smile.  I remember doing connect the dots, and I remember having peanuts and raisins for snack (I hated peanuts and raisins mixed together!).  Regardless, I remember it all. 

As we walked into the room, I could feel my emotions well up, just because of all the reasons above.  Even though he didn't know it, this was going to be such a big step in his life.  I fought so hard to keep the tears back, and was pretty successful, and was thankful I wear glasses where it is easy to hide my eyes. 

The night was pretty uneventful for Tyler.  I think he was most excited when we went and got ice-cream afterwards, because we, for the last year, told him that last night was the "ice cream social".  We learned a couple of weeks ago that they stopped serving ice cream because it was too messy, so instead they had cookies and lemonade.  He was okay with his sherbet from Isaac's Ice Cream Shop. 

I am so excited to see how tomorrow goes for him.  I have a friend tonight that told me how to expect him to grow so much this year.  "His friends will become his life," she said, "and by first grade, you will be in second place.  They grow so much, you will be amazed!"  Although, she has had a couple of years to come to terms with that now.  Me, not so much.

Although I think that is neat, we are still entering a whole new chapter in his life now.  And a new chapter in ours.  I'm going to hang on, because from what people say, the ride is just beginning.

Our new love

Kyle and I bought our first boat from my dad.  I happened to be talking to my dad the weekend before about wanting a boat, and told him to tell us when he was interested in selling his.  He told me that he had actually talked to my mom about asking us if we were interested.  It was just as if the time was perfect!

We didn't waste any time getting on the water.  My parents said I have always been a water lover, and years ago my mom said I would be a boat owner someday.  Little did she know then.....

It was so beautiful outside.  I took pictures of everything to just soak in the moment and the beauty of just being outside on the water.

Tyler is our fish.  Ironically, he has been called Fish since he was 2 days old.  (Story:  Kyle was outside doing yard work, and our neighbor, Vicki drove by with her then 7 year old, Chase.  Vicki saw that Tyler had been born and asked Kyle how big he was.  Kyle replied "7 pounds 2 ounces, 21 inches".  Vicki said she drove off to the store, and about a block later, Chase turned to her and asked "Did Kyle catch a fish?".  Since then, the nickname "Fish" was born!)

We found a beautiful cove we call "family cove".  It's a LOT quieter than Party Cove, if you're not looking for loud music, and possibly people taking their clothes off.  (I wish I was kidding.  Saturday at Party Cove can be interesting...).  So, we found a much quieter place to hang out where the kids can swim easier.  The families that go there have kids, just want to relax, and have a good time. 

I would say we were having a pretty good time in this picture.  We have had a few beverages, and been just relaxing in the sun.  Our favorite place to be.

I just love the water.  I love being on it, in it, near it, and just enjoying the beauty of it.  It's so relaxing, and so many times I just find myself smiling.  This is something as a family that we do, that brings us all smiles. 

What really hit me though, was a comment that someone made that I work with.  In an instant message at work he said, "Have a great time picking up your boat tomorrow.  You don't even know yet how many memories you will be creating for your kids!". 

I'm sure he didn't even understand the impact of that statement at the time.  I thought about it and thought about it.  Some of the best memories I have of a child are boating with my parents and relatives, either on a local lake, or at our yearly vacation at Lake of the Ozarks.  Either way, I now have the opportunity to create those same memories for my kids.  And that really makes me smile.

True Love

One evening.  That is my computer on the left, and Kyle's computer on the right.  We both got up to go do something, and I noticed the table, the chairs, and the computers.  I thought it was cute. 

Do we often get caught up in our jobs?  Do we get caught up in the day?  Do we forget about each other?  Maybe less than we think.  I often sit at my desk during the day and have random thoughts of home.  I was looking at my cell phone today and didn't even realize it, but Kyle and I had shared at least 10 text messages back and forth.  Today we talked about how Connor needs a "real" bed, because from head to toe, he practically touches the headboard and footboard of his toddler bed.  

So maybe we're closer than we think.  Sometimes it's the small things...