Letters To My Boys

One of my favorite things in the morning

2013-09-13T19:45:00.001-04:00

Dear Boys...

One of my favorite things in the morning is when all of you boys are sitting at the breakfast table eating and your dad walks in to make his coffee. Last night the Yankees played the Orioles so the discussion quickly went to the game. Everyone listened intently as dad recounted amazing plays that helped the Yankees win. I don't get involved with the discussion, just listen. And it always makes me smile. I imagine I will miss these conversations some day...but for now I just like to listen.

Love, mom

January 16, 2013

2013-01-16T22:01:00.001-05:00

Dear boys...

What a day!!! It will take me awhile to re-cap!

Today was the day of the "Big Bee." The spelling bee. Both Ben and Joey were in it. I was so proud of you guys. Ben spelled "paper" correctly. Then Joey spelled "prove" correctly. Ben's second word was "summer." Unfortunately, I think you were a little nervous and spelled it "cummer." You said you thought you said "s" but oh well. Jody's second word was "Martian." Difficult word!" So, we got to come home after two rounds. It doesn't matter! I am just so proud of both of you! And , like Ben said, there is always next year!

I came home and got dinner figured out and immediately went to a meeting about high school scheduling. I have to say I almost had a panic attack thinking about it! Kindergarten was no problem. Middle school went fine. But high school?? How did that happen??? I know I will be way more emotional when you go to high school. You will do great but it doesn't mean I have to love it'! :-)

I love you guys!! Have a great night!!

Love, mom

January 15, 2013

2013-01-15T08:50:00.000-05:00

Dear Boys...

I think I drive you nuts. No, I'm sure I do. I guess as a parent that is my job. You drive me nuts a bit too. But, as a kid, that is YOUR job. So, we're even. :-)

But, ultimately, your dad and I are so incredibly lucky to have such good kids. I am touched some times at the comments I get from other parents, teachers, adults about you guys and how great you are. I see it every day but it feels so good when other people see it too...and it means enough to them that they actually tell me about it.

Jack, you are relentless in your passion for certain things. This is amazing. As you get older, this will help you so much as you go through high school (next year! yikes!) and then to college. Remember to continue to use that passion and you will achieve great things.

Joey, you are so competitive and set such high standards for yourself. Don't be too hard on yourself when you don't meet those expectations. I know you will just work harder the next time. In most cases, what you DID achieve is probably higher than any standard anyone else would have set! Oh, the things you will do!!

Ben, silly little Ben. You are so funny, and happy, and there is nothing in this world you don't think you can do. I love that you will try anything and you feel confident doing it. You make friends easily and have fun with whatever you do. Keep doing that and you will forever have happiness!

I don't think I tell you guys this stuff enough so I wanted to write it down. I will make sure I tell you more and more every day too. It will be so much fun to see all the things you guys will do over the years!

I love you! More than anything!

Mom

January 9, 2013

2013-01-09T22:47:00.001-05:00

Dear Ben...

Tube
Been
Flap
Class
Prevent

Those words will be sketched in your memory forever. Your very first spelling bee! You did awesome!! When you told me you wanted me to sign you up for the spelling bee I will admit I sort of didn't want to. Please please understand that it wasn't because you couldn't do it or aren't good at spelling. It's just a parent thing where you never want your child to ever feel disappointment. But, the flip side of that is that if you don't allow your children to feel disappointment, they will never experience success either. I really really want you to have success and know you can do anything! So, I signed you up! You were looking forward to this ever since that day. I could not believe how excited you were to be in the Spelling Bee! Even this morning when I woke you up, I reminded you of the SB and you jumped out of bed and got dressed. Bouncing down the stairs you announced today was THE day! Your brothers did their normal harassment of you and we reminisced about the words they mis spelled in the bees they were in. When I got to school this afternoon your teacher even said you didn't seem nervous at all. I could tell you were a little shaky but i am so proud of the way you are able to overcome that! So, you made it through 5 rounds of words and qualified to spell in the older kids' bee next week. (With your brother Joey!) Besides having some disappointment that you "didn't win anything!" you had fun and it was a wonderful experience. We are so proud of you Ben! We would have been proud of you just for trying but going "the distance" is fabulous! We love you...

I love you little boy!

Love, Mom

January 7, 2013

2013-01-07T22:00:00.001-05:00

Dear Boys...

Holy Moly we are all tired today! We are relatively grumpy and not very motivated. (Okay, we'll, maybe it's me who isn't motivated...) it will take us this week to get back in the swing of things. Ben seemed to be the most excited about being back at school even though he slept the latest today. Joey, you said the sweetest thing today when, not realizing Ben was already downstairs eating breakfast, you came to me and said, "mom, can I gently go wake Ben up?" That made my heart melt. There are those times when you can be so sweet to each other! Hopefully it will be that sweetness that wins out in the end...

Jack, you have just two weeks of this grading period left and I know you can get great grades again. I know you don't think life skills and health are that important. Ultimately, it's not about the class title. It's about doing what you need to do and taking things seriously even when you don't think they matter..because someone thinks they matter and are important for you. Please remember this. You are so smart. Don't let life skills and health be the classes you don't do we'll in. We are so proud of you!

Love you boys!!

Mom

January 6, 2013

2013-01-06T22:36:00.001-05:00

Dear Boys...

Have a great day at school tomorrow. I love you so much!! And don't worry..spring will be here before we know it! As much as we long for those warm days, we have to try to love in the moment and not wish the days away. Life is short my boys. Blink, and you'll miss it. Enjoy every day. Find the goodness in every day. And know that every day is better because YOU are in it!!

I love you...

Love, Mom

January 5, 2013

2013-01-06T08:07:00.000-05:00

Hey guys...

We didn't do much today did we? Unfortunately, it is that time of the vacation when we have to start getting ready to go back to school and work. (ugh) I know I tried to get you to do your homework but I am not sure it all got completed or not. (double ugh because that means we have to be sure it all gets done today...after having two weeks to do it...)

The week has been a blast. I am hoping the hustle bustle of going back to school doesn't get in the way of us continuing to have fun together and doing cool things we did this week when we weren't in school.

Church in the morning. As much as you are going to moan about it, church is good. God is good. I know you grumble about it now but some day, hopefully you will look back on these days and know that the fight I wouldn't let go of helped build a good foundation for your beliefs. Church IS important. God is important. We have much to be thankful for.

Most of all, I have you guys to be thankful for. I love you.

Love, Mom

January 4, 2013

2013-01-05T08:50:00.002-05:00

Dear Boys..

It is Friday before we go back to work and school. I was planning on playing the lottery today...just in case...but I didn't. We did watch Shark Tank tonight so maybe that will inspire me to come up with some great idea so I won't have to go back to work but can make a decent amount of money just doing something cool that I love around the time you are away at school. Unfortunately, I'm not that creative....okay, back to plan B...which is working out decently enough I suppose. (I will ALWAYS be grateful your dad and I have jobs to begin with that allow us to have a good life with many wonderful things for which we should be incredibly thankful!)

Sledding today was again FUN. You guys definitely fought more today than yesterday. Who could make it furthest down the hill seemed to be the biggest challenge...and everyone wanted to win. Well, Jack probably had just a bunch of fun while Joe and Ben did most of the competing. You got a good talking to also about screaming bloody murder when you hurt yourselves. I swear the entire park could hear you yelling...thinking you had a broken leg or something when it ended up being..uh, maybe an EYELASH in your eye! (we will laugh about this some day..I promise!)

We have had a great week together. I love staycations. Just hanging around with you guys is the best. The house is a disaster and I haven't even gotten that upset about it!! :-) (right? Just agree with me here)

We still have the weekend so hopefully a morning trip to IHOP and just a little more fun doing random things will help ease us back in to reality on Monday morning.

But I'm not guaranteeing anything.

Love you guys..

Mom

January 3, 2013

2013-01-03T22:59:00.001-05:00

Dear Boys...

Holy moly I had so much fun today! We started by teaching Jack how to make sunny side up eggs. Hopefully now he will be empowered to make his own breakfast when he wakes up at 11:30!!

Mariokart is kind of a daily thing around here during the holidays. One of these days we will be able to play without someone crying!! (Maybe?)

When I had finally reached my tear maximum, we decided to go sledding. So.much.fun!!! We bought a couple new sleds but you guys preferred to all pile on to one sled and give that a whirl. It was so funny to see you all cram on one tiny sled when we had two other perfectly fine sleds!! Ben held his hands up so everyone could see he was going down the hill with no hands!!

It was a great day and I am so lucky I got to spend it with you guys!!

Love, Mom

January 2, 2013

2013-01-02T23:32:00.001-05:00

Dear Jack, Joey and Ben..

Happy New Year! This is going to be a great year! You guys are growing up so fast! We have lots to do this year so let's make sure we do it together. I love you and our family and our lives. We have so much to be thankful for. Let's try not to forget that.

We had fun at COSI today. Remember how scared you were of the Adventure exhibit? But then it ended up not being too scary! The 3d shark movie was pretty good. I love that stuff. Burger King was a good thought but I know we all regretted eating there when we were done! Blech!

"Boys, let me take your picture!" (just keeping it real!)

"come on, give me a little bit of love..."

I love you guys and hope for lots more "Adventures" in 2013!!!

Love, mom

P.S. Don't ever forget this AWESOME snow fort you made!!!

Jack is practically a man like his dad. This makes my heart melt.

Ben working like a dog.

A rare expression of love between two brothers had to be caught in a picture!

2012-08-26T22:34:00.001-04:00

Dear Boys...
We had another LONG day of baseball. It was long for me but you know how much I love watching you guys play. I need you to know something. I know you are competitive by nature..all of you. But you don't ever have to compete for who is better at one thing or another just to prove something to your dad and me. We think you guys are so talented and hardworking. We KNOW this. We don't love one of you more because you had more hits one day or pitched better on another day. The same goes for school. You are all sooooo smart! As long as you work hard, study when you are supposed to, and try your best, we are proud. And the good thing is YOU ALREADY DO THAT!! We are so proud of all of you boys!! A high batting average or a low ERA isn't going to change that. You know why? Because you are good kids. You are kind, polite, honest, and friendly. You have hearts of gold and that makes you kids people like to have around. We love you more than anything. Don't ever forget that.

Love You guys!

Mom

2012-04-03T23:19:00.001-04:00

Dear Joey...
Jack and I were talking about something in the car today. I can't even remember what it was. Jack was nervous about something he had to do I think but I am honestly not sure. You spoke up and told him "Jack, all it takes is 20 seconds of insane courage."

It touches my heart that you remembered that line from a movie we saw over spring break. I hope you never ever forget that all it really takes is 20 seconds of insane courage. Dream big and don't ever forget your insane courage.

I love you Joe!

Love, Mom

2012-02-10T22:49:00.001-05:00

Dear Boys...
I am going to try to be much better at writing to you. I do have a lot to say. Ben, your birthday is coming up. We are SO excited but I think you are like over the top excited! More to come on that this week! For now, here is a picture from Christmas! You guys are still awful cute!

I love you!
Mom

2011-04-02T13:35:00.002-04:00

Dear Boys...

You are awful cute!

Love, Mom

2011-03-24T21:59:00.002-04:00

Dear Boys...

Today was a pretty big day for you guys. We had to say good bye to this old tree.

This tree has been the first thing that we have seen when we looked out that front window every day for as long as we all can remember.

You decided to pull up some chairs and watch step by step what would happen to that old tree. Jack, you probably had the hardest time with it. That tree has meant a lot to you particularly over the years.

When you were a baby, we used to have picnics in that yard with Miss Paula and Jonah and we would put a blanket right under the shade of that tree.

When you started walking, it was a great tree to hide behind when we played in that yard.

It was the tree that marked the halfway mark when you started running and had to go tag something and then run back.

As you grew older, and started playing wiffle ball in the front yard, you always dreamed of being able to hit that tree with a wiffle ball.

You finally could hit the tree and then anything you hit past the tree was a homerun.

That old tree has seen a LOT of wiffle ball games in its lifetime. Wiffle ball games, football games, Easter Egg hunts. It has watched you walk to school, walk home from school, and past it on your way to the backyard pool across the street.

You learned how to ride a bike in front of that tree. That tree has watched all of you boys play together in the front yard...arguing, giggling, and growing up.

As Ben watched the tree trimmers cut section by section of the tree down today, he looked at me and said, "Mommy, it's just like the tree in our favorite book!"

And it did. It reminded me of the years that we have spent with that tree and how much it has given us....and how we really haven't given it much in return.

Its shade....

A hiding place...

A home run fence...

As that last section came down, I found myself wondering if that tree really wished that we could carve a boat out of its trunk.

And I thought about one of you boys sitting on the stump to take a rest.

I thought about all the pictures we have of you children and how that tree is in almost every one that was ever taken in our front yard.

And, the tree was happy.

Love, Mom

2011-03-23T12:31:00.001-04:00

Dear Boys..

All right you crazy kiddos! I have to vow to write on this more often!! There are so many things throughout the day/week/month that I see and think, "I need to write to the boys about that." and then I never do it. Hopefully it is because I am busy WITH you and not withOUT you.

For now, here are a few pictures of our spring break...at home... I love you guys!

Jack is a dunking machine! (as long as the hoop is only 7 feet tall...but who's measuring!)

Joey found a group of friends to play kickball with at the park before we even parked the car!

"How am I going to get that ball out of that puddle?"

"Of course! I have a big brother who will do ANYTHING for me!"

Such determination!!!

Run Joey Run!

You can make it to second!

Uh, Ben, aren't you supposed to slide on the INSIDE of that tube slide?

Dunk Dunk Dunk

"What's with that camera in my face all the time??"

"MOM! Think fast!"

"You talkin' ta me?"

Happy Spring!

Love, Mom

2011-01-24T22:08:00.003-05:00

Dear Boys...

None of you is feeling particularly well. Jack, you have been sick since last week and are probably the "well-est" of all you guys right now. Joey, you seem to be getting better today. Ben, you are feeling awful. And, I feel awful about that. You see, I will send you off to school tomorrow, loaded up on cough medicine and motrin hoping to help you feel better while you aren't home snuggling with me. I have to go to work. Of all weeks to get sick, this one is the worst. (not that any week is a GOOD week to get sick!) Dad is out of town. I am needed at work. I am needed at home...by you guys. It is the plight of the working mom, I am afraid...our internal struggle of wanting, needing to stay home with her munchkins, especially when they aren't feeling well. And yet, knowing, responsibilities at work beckon, and people needing me to help them meet their deadlines aren't always the most understanding in these situations. Acutally, I shouldn't say that. The majority of the people I work with are VERY understanding. It is the small minority who can make my work life as difficult as can be when/if I need to stay at home with my sick babies. Oh, they would never say anything directly to me about it, but I would always know. "Why doesn't she have back up babysitting for situations like this?" "Doesn't she know how to plan better for when she has a sick kid?" "Gee, I don't get to take a day off when my kid gets sick..because I don't have kids!" And, in this economy of people struggling to find and keep their jobs, my poor babies get the short end of the stick. Instead of staying home and putting cool wash clothes on your head, and reading to you in bed, and making you chicken soup, I will send you to school, hoping that the teachers there will take at least half as good a care as I would have taken with you. And, I will feel guilty about it all day...and pray that you aren't feeling horribly and wondering why mom has to go to work instead of stay home with you.

I'm sorry baby. I hope you feel better. I will sleep with you tonight, and make sure you don't have a fever. I will make sure you have a cup of orange juice next to your bed and your favorite n'night tucked right under your cheek. I will snuggle with you and stroke your forehead and sing you lullabyes and hope that in the morning, your sniffles will all be gone. And pray that you will always know how much I love you.

Love, Mom

2011-01-11T21:15:00.000-05:00

Dear Boys..

I know you want a snow day sooo bad tomorrow. You did all the "rituals." Put the spoons under your pillow, wore your underwear inside out, flushed ice cubes down the toilet. You have worked for this. But, I am very afraid that it just won't happen. You haven't realized yet that our little town is insanely efficient at snow removal. And really, you don't need plowed roads anyway when most of you can walk to school!

You would have more of a chance of missing school if another hurricane hit Central Ohio like it did when Ike went through here three years ago and you missed four days of school. See, we are prepared for snow. Hurricanes, not so much.

But, I will keep my fingers crossed for you anyway!!

Love, Mom

2011-01-01T09:46:00.000-05:00

Dear Boys..

Here is our first picture of 2011. I hope every day of this year always finds you with something to smile about.

Love, Mom

2010-12-31T09:16:00.000-05:00

Dear Boys...

Well, I did it again. I started a blog with every intention of writing in it "all the time" and here it sits. Oh, I have every intention of writing so many things. I have so many thoughts swirling around in this head of mine that I want and need to share with you. And, I do share them with you. But, I really want so many of them to be written down.

So, on this last day of 2010, I am going to resolve for the New Year to write more in my blog. I will first and foremost spend more quality time with you guys and then make sure I am writing things down. I really want you to have this so some day you can look back and laugh at all the crazy stuff we did, smile at a fun memory, or just ponder what you were doing way back when.

I love you guys. You make me so proud. Here are some pictures from Christmas to end the year.

2010-12-12T12:59:00.000-05:00

Dear Boys..

Yesterday we went to our annual Breakfast with Santa at my work. I have to admit. I was dreading it a little this year. I just wanted to sleep in. We saw Santa at church last week and I thought that should do it. (wow, do I sound like a Scrooge or what?)

I'm so glad you talked me in to it. Seeing you sit on Santa's lap and hearing you talk about how "good" you were this year (or weren't..uh, Jack? I was shocked that you admitted it! And wasn't it great to hear that Santa had brothers too and could totally relate to you??) never gets old. I will probably want you to do that even when you are in college.

Okay, maybe not.

But, my favorite part of the day was getting my picture taken with you guys. We so rarely have that opportunity. I am so thankful that my friend from work was such a good sport and snapped a few shots.

I will love this picture forever.

Love, Mom

2010-12-10T22:58:00.000-05:00

Dear Boys..

The Christmas tree looks beautiful. Thanks Jack for helping me "straighten it out" before we started decorating. It really was in there crooked and we didn't want to have to tilt our heads to the sides when we looked at it.

GREAT JOB at decorating! You didn't break any ornaments. "Mom, is this a heavy one?" "Mom, can this one break?" "Mom, can you help me find a strong branch for this one?" We certainly dropped quite a few but we didn't break any!

We'll see if we can say that in a few days after Bronx has decided that the tree is invading HIS space!

I hope your colds are better tomorrow. I wish we could sleep in. But, I understand your need to see Santa...AGAIN....at 8:30 on a Saturday morning....*yawn*.

How about we all take naps tomorrow??

Love, Mom

2010-12-09T21:52:00.000-05:00

Dear Boys...

Things I will remember about picking out a Christmas tree with you this year:

Jack decided HE was going to be the one to pick it out since the other boys did it with dad last year. (you little boys were having NONE of that!))
Ben couldnt't WAIT to go get a tree and the whole time we were there he kept saying, "just PICK one guys!"
Joey going through row after row looking for the perfect one....knowing just what he had in mind and nothing was quite right.
Really wanting the tree that that guy picked for his girlfriend. We thought it was perfect but she didn't really want it...until WE said if she didn't want it, we would take it. Then, she thought it was great. (remember the saying "you may not want it but you don't want someone else to have it either" that applies here)
The fact that even though all this happened, we got in the car at 5:00pm to get the tree and had it paid for, tied to the top of the car and we were all back in the car pulling out of the lot at 5:18pm. Amazing what a little cold will do for your decision making!

It is a great tree. I love it. But, most of all, I love that we picked it out together...and had so much fun doing it!

Love, Mom

2010-12-07T22:32:00.000-05:00

Dear Boys...

I am sorry that when you get up tomorrow and discover that I made puppy chow tonight, you will not be allowed to have any. It isn't for you. It is for my work. I promise I will make you some within the next few days. I just didn't have the energy to make it tonight. Please forgive me.

Love, Mom

2010-11-17T22:24:00.001-05:00

Dear Boys...

Tonight when I was tucking you in to bed, Jack told me he wanted to talk to me about something. He told me about a boy at school.
It about broke my heart to hear you telling that story.

I know that you guys have had a lot to deal with this year in school already...friends parents breaking up, wondering why some friends make the choices they do, losing your friend, Solomon. With so many of those things I just don't know what to say. Your dad and I love you so much and we can continue to show you that and help you to know that we will always be here for you.

You guys are pretty darn cool and are such good friends. I hope you know that you can talk to me and your dad about anything you want to. We will help you through whatever it is. If your friends need help, you can talk to us about that too. We may not have all the answers, but we will figure things out together.

Just keep being good friends. We know you already are.

Love, Mom