Football Baby!

Saturday was an awesome day.  Unfortunately, C you are too little to join us on this outting but boy did big brother and I have a wonderful time watching football.

I took K to his first football game ever on Saturday.  It was the spring scrimmage for the University of Oregon Ducks.  The Ducks were honoring the men and women in the armed services that are fighting for our country.  It was incredible to see the men and women there in uniform enjoying the game.

Anyway... back to the main point of this story... Go Ducks!  I love football more then I can say and to be able to share this experience with my son.  Holy Cow was I excited.  K... not so much.

Now K, you've never been one to watch football on TV, but like I said, I LOVE FOOTBALL, so I really wanted to take you to a game.  When C gets bigger, I'll take him to a game.  Now, your dad doesn't like football so much so it falls to me to expose my sons to this fabulous game.  A game I grew up loving and I hope you guys do too.

We got to the game and they had a fly over of two F-14 fighter jets.  You were in awe.  You love planes so this was a spectacular bonus for you.  The game started, and since it was a scrimmage we were rooting for both sides.  We yelled when touchdowns were scored, when interceptions were made, when fumbles happened, and when there were awesome hits.

Then halftime.  It was an incredible ceremony of honoring service members world wide that had given their lives for their country.  It was very moving.  At the end of the ceremony there was a fly over by a Coast Guard Helicopter.  You were again in awe.

The game continued.  More rooting for the players, watching how the kids play and attack the ball.  You were restless, but seemed to enjoy it.  Then at the end of the game we got to go down on the field.  You didn't want to, you wanted to leave, but I wanted to.  I wanted to go and take your photo on the field.  You went down to humor me and when we got down there... You loved it!  You ran around on every 10 yard marker as fast as you could.  Again, Awesome!

When we got home you couldn't wait to tell everyone (Gram, Pa-o, Dad, Uncle Keith) about the game.  You know what you told them.  Not about the game. Not about the players.  Not about the touchdowns, runs or tackles.  You told them about the two Fire Jets and Hollycopter that flew over the stadium.  You loved it!

Finally there was something, at least close to football, that you were excited about.  This was something I couldn't wait to share with you.  Football is something I look forward to sharing with you and your brother in the future. 

But my sons, I want you to know I will not push you to play.  I had visions when I was pregnant that you would both play for the Denver Broncos (QuarterBack and Kicker respectively).  I still hope you do one day.  But if you guys have nothing to do with football, other then watching the games with me on Sundays, I will be one proud Mom!

Every morning is a catch-22...

One of my most cherished routines of the day is my morning.  I should actually say, our morning. 

K, every morning you wake up and toddle into my room.  While I am often wishing that you'd go away and sleep a little longer (or at the very least stay in your room so I can keep sleeping!) you come in very quietly and climb into bed with me.  More often then not you will just lay there for a bit until you just can't contain yourself any more. 

Then as you poke me in the shoulder I hear you whisper... "Mom, I'm ready to watch cartoons now."

As I unbury my head from the pillow that is allowing me the false belief that it's still dark and I still have hours left to sleep, I see you only inches from my face smiling.  Your eyes twinkle.  It's all I can do not to wrap my arms around you and hug you tighly!

"Ok baby," I say and I sit up in bed looking for the remote. 

"I love you mommy!" you exclaim and wrap your arms around my neck.

I turn on Mickey Mouse and rebury my head under the pillow.  I have no illusions that I could possibly go back to sleep.  I realize that the noise from the TV could wake your brother and I pray that I have a little bit of quiet time left before that happens.  Fortunately, the volume is low enough he doesn't wake. 

You however, that's another story!  You laugh almost uncontrolably as Goofy or Donald does something you just find hysterical.  That, of course, makes me chuckle under my pillow.

I long for the days when I could stay up until midnight and sleep the next day until noon.  On the other hand, I would never trade our morning routine for anything.

starting out

So this is going to be the first of many blogs to my children.  That's right.  My kids.  I love them dearly and I want them to know how much I love them.  Here's why...

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the murder of my friend.  He was a wonderful man.  But beyond who he was... he left behind a family.  A family who, until that day, couldn't imagine a life without them.  A wife.  Two daughters.  A father.  A mother.  A sister. A brother.  That is just the beginning.  Those left behind when he was murdered must now come to terms with a man taken before his time.  Taken by force.  Taken when he had so much left to give.

It is because of this loss in my life, this loss in the world, that I want my kids to know how much they mean to me.  Despite the fact that sometimes I want to strangle them!

Sometimes I ask myself... why on earth did I have children?  Why on earth did I want to do this to myself?  These two little helions are the most important thing in my life (next to my husband that is) and yet... sometimes I can't wait to get out of the house and go to work.

I had children because I wanted to.  I wanted to take care of someone and to love someone unconditionally.  That is what parents do.  Love unconditionally.  I don't believe you truely figure out what that love is until you have your own child.  I can't explain the depth of this love in words. I can't explain how incredible being a mother is.  Of course, I think parents love their kids unconditionally because if they didn't, the world population would be A LOT smaller.  Because parents would have them taken out! 

Remember that.  I love you, but you're lucky!