Landon:
I just love him. Every night, after we both finish a long day of work, I hop into bed and Landon gets on his knees and prays/writes in his journal. I sit on my knees in bed, impatiently waiting for him to finish up. Sometimes I exhale loudly to try to get him to hurry up. Then he gets into bed, lays on his back and extends his right arm out flat on the bed. I then eagerly fall into his arms, tuck my legs under his arched knees, he wraps his arm around me and I curl myself up into the safest place in the world for me. We lay there for a little while. Sometimes a minute, sometimes 30 minutes, depending on how tired we are. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we listen to a book, sometimes we.... ahem... and sometimes we think silently to ourselves. But all times I end the moment thinking, "I will do anything tomorrow, as long as this is what I can come back to at the end of the day."
Becca:
I have been completely inspired by Michelle Obama's book Becoming. I even bought it for Jaxson because its just that good. I feel this new eagerness to learn from anyone and everyone I can. I read this quote this week and it just felt powerful: "I remind myself every morning; Nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if i'm going to learn, I must do it by listening." -Larry King. So i've been trying it. Trying it in prayer, and with my boys, and with my family and friends. And I am just surrounded by so many good people that I can learn so much from. Michelle Obama is one of those people and if you haven't read her book, read it.
Jaxson:
He was so thrilled for Thursday. Thursday was market day and he had spent a good week making his adorable bookmarks for the market. I know i'm biased, but I don't care, Jaxson sold the most quality thing there. He ended up with so much money, bought a few things, that have sense made it to the trash. I cuddled up close with Jaxson last night and we watched the Oral Roberts/Arkansa game. Oral Roberts almost won, which would have been fun, but just being with my big 9 year old boy, and having him ask, "Mom can we cuddle", that was the best. He also put his head on my shoulder at church, which is something I always remember doing with my mom. Motherhood is such a beautiful gift and I feel blessed to be the mother to Jax. I love him so much.
Ty:
Ty ty has always been so fiery, independent, stubborn and determined. Which has just caused me, well a lot of grey hairs. But this week he proved once again, that he is destined to do great things. His work ethic and dedication to things is astounding to me. In soccer he never quits, in swimming to pushes his limits, in reading he focuses hard and all the other parts of the day he creates and builds and dreams. I will never have to worry about this kiddo consuming things, he to this day won't sit through an entire movie. Ty is not a consumer, he is not passive, he is an active creator and it is a true honor to watch him do all the things. I also just love his questions, "Mom is Satan alive? How long will he live?" "Mom how do you know that you felt God?" "Mom how can we make wax?" Haha, yes, his questions aren't all spiritual.
Luke:
Yesterday, Landon, Jax and Ty, were in the other car and got caught up in traffic. Luke, Brigs and I got home. Brigs was already asleep, but in very Brig like nature, I was able to take him out of his carseat, wrap him up in a blanket and put him back down to bed. Then Lukie & I went outside and kicked the ball together. He thought it was so fun and he laughed and laughed and laughed. I love how he giggles his way through life. Giggles or screams. But I won't hold the screaming against him when he grows up, 1)Because i'll hold screaming against Ty and 2)Because I blame toddlerhood for 90% of it. Later in the day, after I had built a rock house with Ty and kicked the soccer ball with Luke, and dominated Jaxson in basketball (which I had to because he called me an old grandma), I just needed a minute. So I laid down on my bed. Luke found me, climbed up into my bed, scotched his way into my arms and whispered, "Mommee. We do lexa play animals sounds". So we did, "Alexa" I said, "Play animal sounds". And Luke and I spent the next 10 minutes asking Alexa to make all the sounds from eagles, to hippos, to whales, to chickens. Alexa did it all. I often say I don't love to toddler motherhood life. But as I scroll through my photos, it shows otherwise. It seems that Luke is the person I record the most, because well, he is absolutely the cutest and I want to remember everything from his little voice to his singing to his dancing and his facial expressions.
Brigham:
Oh Briggy boy. Friday night I took the boys to swim lessons. I have to be in the pool with Luke and Ty is in his lane. So I had Jax sit with Brigs in his carseat right next to me. About 20 minutes in to the lesson, I look over and literally watch this angle baby of my slowly close his eyes and fall asleep. No coaxing, no prep, no crying. Its funny, you'd think that the easy going, flexible, even tempered, calm, sweet spirited little baby would just be forgotten, because well, there is enough going on already. But its the opposite. I don't think I have had a baby that has had more attention than Brigs. When the 5 of us arrived at church today, the first words out of Ty's mouth were, "Can I hold Brigs". So he did. 15 minutes later, Jax asked, "Can I hold Brigs?" Ty consented, though he would have happily kept holding him. Jax grabbed him and held him for the next 20 minutes. Then Luke wanted a turn of his own. And when Brigs sat upright in Lukes lap, Lukie slowly moved his mask down, and kissed Brigs on the head ever so tenderly. Brigs brings a spirit into our family and our home that didn't quite exist beforehand. I can not wait to see the things this tender sweet calm wonderful extraordinary little soul does. And also, I'm excited for when its just me, Lando and Brigs. Because we are going to PARTY.
This Kentucky life man. It will be a year I never ever forget. A sweet simple special year.
