We are definitely not ready for this yet Let it be known that this was your first social media post ever. And the last for a while!
Wednesday, July 08, 2015
One and done. For now.
As we sat on the couch this evening watching TV I look over and you have posted yourself to my Instagram account.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Sweetness
Cole, I can only hope that this holds true in the coming years. This came home from school in your folder today. I was floored. You know how to make a Mom feel like the luckiest one on earth!
Sweetness.
Mommy
Friday, April 10, 2015
Our Everyday
This week, starting on Wednesday at 3:30, I decided to do a 24 hour photo project of our family. For the 24 hours following you getting home from school, my camera was attached to me. Surprisingly, you guys rolled with it. And you were even a little bit interested in why I would do such a thing.
Aside from the fact that I love my camera and taking pictures fills my soul - I wanted to document our "normal". I don't want to forget the small things that we take for granted every day. Our routine is nothing exciting. And it's much like everyone else's. But for me, when the days start to drone on with the same old routine day in and day out - I often forget to notice the little things.
But after the 24 hours, I looked back on the photos (I took over 125) and was able to smile and know that I did indeed capture your personalities. And I love that. This will forever make me smile.
Everyday. April 2015
Love,
Mom
Aside from the fact that I love my camera and taking pictures fills my soul - I wanted to document our "normal". I don't want to forget the small things that we take for granted every day. Our routine is nothing exciting. And it's much like everyone else's. But for me, when the days start to drone on with the same old routine day in and day out - I often forget to notice the little things.
But after the 24 hours, I looked back on the photos (I took over 125) and was able to smile and know that I did indeed capture your personalities. And I love that. This will forever make me smile.
Everyday. April 2015
Love,
Mom
Monday, April 06, 2015
Never a quitter!
We had the coolest day today. I took you boys to an adventure Park where they have ropes, cables, zip lines, ladders and all kinds of other obstacles. You guys could not wait! Once we had our orientation you both were off and running. I was following closely behind and hoping I could keep up with you both.
And sometimes you even helped each other - rather than pushing each other off the 20' high platform.
We stuck together for the first course and then JD moved on. Cole, you and I stuck together and took our time on the next 4 courses. We climbed for about 4 hours.
I spent a good part of the day behind you Cole, with tears streaming down my cheeks. While I know that you love adventure, I also know that adventures like this make you a little scared and aren't easy. For so many years you have had low muscle tone (due to being a preemie) and speed and balance take more effort for you.
Watching you today was incredible. You were having so much fun and you were very proud of what you were doing. At times you were really scared and you would stop. In the middle of an obstacle. And the people around us would start cheering for you. And then you'd start moving again.
Twice, your zip line stopped short and you didn't reach the platform; and you were there hanging 20 feet above the ground. Both times, you yelled that you needed help. And both times I told you to start pulling yourself to the platform with your hands. The helpers below started cheering for you again and we all coached you until you made it. You did it.
You will never understand how proud I am to watch you do these kinds of things. These are things that I wasn't sure you would ever be able to in the days and weeks following your birth.
After a few months of watching you fight or your life, it didn't take me long to understand that you are not a quitter. Days like today only remind me of how lucky we are.
You were incredible today and you are such a great reminder to me of how we all can do anything we want to do. We just can't stop trying. You must've yelled at me 50 times to not help you today. We had quite a line behind us because we were moving pretty slow but you didn't care. You were taking your own sweet time and you were doing it. And you did.
And sometimes you even helped each other - rather than pushing each other off the 20' high platform.
Cole, you spent a good deal of the day with that scared, unsure look on your face. But not once did you quit or say you were done. You never fail until you stop trying. Thank you for that reminder sweet boy.
Love, Mom
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Tuesday, October 07, 2014
Honesty
I love this so so much!
I am honest when I...
I told my mom I didn't break my mom's lamp but eventually I told her.
Monday, September 22, 2014
8th Birthday Palooza!
It's been a fun few weeks since your real birthday, back in August. Lots of fun celebrations stretched out over the weeks. You are some lucky boys!
JD's party was yesterday - what a fun day with fun friends. Your soccer party went off without a hitch - no casualties or injuries and lots of dirty, tired faces by the end. You played your hearts out all afternoon - soccer, football, street hockey and a big game of tag. I hope it was exactly what you wanted my sweet. You sure looked like you were having the time of your life.
Here's to a sweet 8th year buddy. Love you to pieces.
JD's party was yesterday - what a fun day with fun friends. Your soccer party went off without a hitch - no casualties or injuries and lots of dirty, tired faces by the end. You played your hearts out all afternoon - soccer, football, street hockey and a big game of tag. I hope it was exactly what you wanted my sweet. You sure looked like you were having the time of your life.
Here's to a sweet 8th year buddy. Love you to pieces.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
8 is GREAT!
SkyZone Trampoline Park! We celebrated Cole's birthday today in jumpin' fashion. Next weekend we will celebrate JD!
Sunday, September 07, 2014
Fall Soccer (the good, the tough and the reality)
Fall soccer is upon us. And for the first time in sports, we have had a very challenging predicament with you boys. For the last 3 soccer seasons, you both have played on the same team together, with Dad as your coach. For the last year (last fall and this past spring), you played with some of the same kids both seasons and got to know some really fun kids. You both flourished in your own ways and adored your team mates.
Fast forward to fall this year and there was debate about playing for a "travel" soccer team, rather than the community league that we have been playing in with the BAYS. This travel team is for kids who are a bit more dedicated to soccer and have a bit more natural soccer ability. With this, comes "tryouts" for the team. Only a select few (13) make the team. Tryouts arrived and before that day, we had to decide if both of you were going to try out or if just JD would try out.
Cole, up until now, your soccer experience was more for the social aspect and the fun of it. You enjoy the game but more than that, you love to be around your friends and laugh and joke around on the bench. Most days, you would have preferred not to go to practice, but did so to support your team (and we wouldn't let you skip practice). And most of the games you would have just as soon skipped - and elected not to play if the coaches would let you sit out. And make no mistake, we allowed you to decide if you wanted to play at the beginning of the season and you did.
JD, you had a little more spark in your game and were a little more competitive. You practice at home more often and never don't want to play. Your heart is more in it and you consistently say it's your favorite sport. With that said, there was no question that you were going to try out for this team.
It became obvious to Dad and I that we needed to make a decision on how we would handle one of you making the team and the other not making the team. We weren't sure if we should have both of you try out, or encourage Cole to hold on it this year and continue to play at the community level. Either way we presented this, we knew this was going to be hard on you Cole. It hurt my heart to think about it, much less have to have this discussion with you.
It didn't go well. You cried. You got angry. You didn't really understand how if you had played with all of these kids for this many seasons that you wouldn't be included in this team. We tried to explain that you would enjoy the community league much more because it's much more laid back and fun. We tried to explain that you could play with some of your old pals and make some new ones. Tryouts came around and we held you back. We thought it would be harder on you if you didn't make the team than if you just didn't try out. Not sure what the right choice was but we had to pick one and stick with it.
After tryouts, the travel team was set. JD made it. Along with a few of your other past team mates. But not all of them made it. We told you it was your choice on whether you played for the community team or not. It took you weeks to decide. One day you were in, the next day you were out. You eventually decided to play. And you have awesome coaches - Coach Denise and Coach Pat.
Unfortunately, with sports these days, the level escalates early - way too early for my liking. Eight year olds should not be faced with this - you're too young. But I lost that battle and we moved forward against everything I believe. Much to my dismay, we were signing up to be that family who has an eight year old traveling too far from home for games every week, with pressure that should not be at this young age. It went against everything that I believe kids sport should be these days. The level of play is significantly higher and the rules are like the big boys. Although much faster paced and fun to watch, the jury is still out on whether or not it's too much. Time will tell.
So, our first games were this weekend. And both of you did amazing! Cole, you had the earlier game and contrary to how you played last year, you got in there and played like a champ. You turned it on! You hustled, went after the ball and actually seemed like you were enjoying it. Although you froze up a bit when we first arrived, you loosened up a bit and never hesitated to go in when coach asked you. Milestones sweet boy. Milestones.
After your game, we had to drive over an hour to JD's game. We got there just as the game started and for the first time ever, you actually sat and watched and cheered on your old pals. You took pictures and videos with my phone and luckily, didn't seem too sad to be there!
JD, you played amazing. You loved it. It was so cool to watch you play with such passion - your heart was in it 100%. Your team looked terrific - and your coaches (Dad) were so proud. And a bonus was that you boys won your first game!
It is absolutely my favorite thing to do - to watch you boys play sports. Watching you flourish with your team, coaches and the game itself is awesome. Every parent on the sidelines is proud of their kid(s). Spending the mornings with these parents, watching our kids play together is so rewarding. We live in a wonderful community where everyone is so supportive - and I was reminded this weekend of how special that is. We have a great season ahead for both of you. Although it's a much different season since the two of you are going in different directions with different teams, it adds to the fun. I feel so lucky and blessed to have healthy, fun kids who have something that they can grow with and be passionate about. Whether it's sports or something else, we will continue to encourage you to foster a passion. As long as it's fun & enjoyable, keep going for it!
Fast forward to fall this year and there was debate about playing for a "travel" soccer team, rather than the community league that we have been playing in with the BAYS. This travel team is for kids who are a bit more dedicated to soccer and have a bit more natural soccer ability. With this, comes "tryouts" for the team. Only a select few (13) make the team. Tryouts arrived and before that day, we had to decide if both of you were going to try out or if just JD would try out.
Cole, up until now, your soccer experience was more for the social aspect and the fun of it. You enjoy the game but more than that, you love to be around your friends and laugh and joke around on the bench. Most days, you would have preferred not to go to practice, but did so to support your team (and we wouldn't let you skip practice). And most of the games you would have just as soon skipped - and elected not to play if the coaches would let you sit out. And make no mistake, we allowed you to decide if you wanted to play at the beginning of the season and you did.
JD, you had a little more spark in your game and were a little more competitive. You practice at home more often and never don't want to play. Your heart is more in it and you consistently say it's your favorite sport. With that said, there was no question that you were going to try out for this team.
It became obvious to Dad and I that we needed to make a decision on how we would handle one of you making the team and the other not making the team. We weren't sure if we should have both of you try out, or encourage Cole to hold on it this year and continue to play at the community level. Either way we presented this, we knew this was going to be hard on you Cole. It hurt my heart to think about it, much less have to have this discussion with you.
It didn't go well. You cried. You got angry. You didn't really understand how if you had played with all of these kids for this many seasons that you wouldn't be included in this team. We tried to explain that you would enjoy the community league much more because it's much more laid back and fun. We tried to explain that you could play with some of your old pals and make some new ones. Tryouts came around and we held you back. We thought it would be harder on you if you didn't make the team than if you just didn't try out. Not sure what the right choice was but we had to pick one and stick with it.
After tryouts, the travel team was set. JD made it. Along with a few of your other past team mates. But not all of them made it. We told you it was your choice on whether you played for the community team or not. It took you weeks to decide. One day you were in, the next day you were out. You eventually decided to play. And you have awesome coaches - Coach Denise and Coach Pat.
Unfortunately, with sports these days, the level escalates early - way too early for my liking. Eight year olds should not be faced with this - you're too young. But I lost that battle and we moved forward against everything I believe. Much to my dismay, we were signing up to be that family who has an eight year old traveling too far from home for games every week, with pressure that should not be at this young age. It went against everything that I believe kids sport should be these days. The level of play is significantly higher and the rules are like the big boys. Although much faster paced and fun to watch, the jury is still out on whether or not it's too much. Time will tell.
So, our first games were this weekend. And both of you did amazing! Cole, you had the earlier game and contrary to how you played last year, you got in there and played like a champ. You turned it on! You hustled, went after the ball and actually seemed like you were enjoying it. Although you froze up a bit when we first arrived, you loosened up a bit and never hesitated to go in when coach asked you. Milestones sweet boy. Milestones.
After your game, we had to drive over an hour to JD's game. We got there just as the game started and for the first time ever, you actually sat and watched and cheered on your old pals. You took pictures and videos with my phone and luckily, didn't seem too sad to be there!
JD, you played amazing. You loved it. It was so cool to watch you play with such passion - your heart was in it 100%. Your team looked terrific - and your coaches (Dad) were so proud. And a bonus was that you boys won your first game!
It is absolutely my favorite thing to do - to watch you boys play sports. Watching you flourish with your team, coaches and the game itself is awesome. Every parent on the sidelines is proud of their kid(s). Spending the mornings with these parents, watching our kids play together is so rewarding. We live in a wonderful community where everyone is so supportive - and I was reminded this weekend of how special that is. We have a great season ahead for both of you. Although it's a much different season since the two of you are going in different directions with different teams, it adds to the fun. I feel so lucky and blessed to have healthy, fun kids who have something that they can grow with and be passionate about. Whether it's sports or something else, we will continue to encourage you to foster a passion. As long as it's fun & enjoyable, keep going for it!
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