We will remember

This is a post that was shared on Facebook three years ago by the Domestic Queen and each year I see it and I pulls at my heart strings. I want to share it here so I have the sweet reminder.

My husband said to me this morning as he got the kids ready for a day out "They'll never remember. All this stuff we do with them, the places we take them...they won't remember much of it".

He is right. They wont. Not much of it anyway. But still it matters. Because he and I will remember.

Someday in the future,

As the door opens and our son introduces his first girlfriend or boyfriend, we will remember a time when all that mattered in his world was his mum and dad. And that how we treated him painted the canvass of how he sees this first relationship.

As our teenage daughter runs up the stairs claiming we dont understand her, we will remember that all it took when she was 5-years-old was a kiss, a cuddle and soothing words and that although she has no memory of it, she returns for those words aged 15.

We will remember as we choose the paint that will redecorate the hall, that we dont have to worry about the expensive paint that you can rub handprints from anymore. And I will yearn, I will ache, for a tiny handprint on my wall.

And as I watch my children with their children, I will remember that every trip to the park, every day we bombed them with love, every time we played hide and seek, shaped the map that they walked upon, in their quest to be a good parent themselves.

And as I walk along the beach someday in years to come, my face lined with the creases of my thoughts, my moments of panic, my moments of joy, I will feel the hot sand on the soles of my feet and remember my child walking to the sea with his dad on a day that I thought would last forever, but has now long gone.

I'll remember.

And my darling child, I will tell you what you dont remember...

Holding your 8lb body against my skin in a feeling that would defy what I ever thought possible.

Holding your hand as you took your first steps. Away from me. Towards the world.

Holding your waist as you navigated a pathway that had imaginary crocodiles trying to snap your ankles.

Holding it together when your daddy threw you up into the air, you squealing with delight, me squirming with anticipation.

Holding a book, a breast pump, a baby and a hand whilst I read you a story.

Holding back the tears when you had me filled with pride at your school play.

And you may say "I dont remember any of that".

No.

But I will.

And I watch you transition from child to teenager to adult to parent to home owner, I will know that what I remember, keeps you close to me.

And what you dont remember, made you, you.

And no matter how old you are, precious little child, should you find yourself up in the air, call us.

Daddy knows how to catch you. Remember?

Mom and Dad 💛

More vaccine progress!

On Monday the Pfizer vaccine was approved for the 12 - 15 age group (before it was only 16 and older) and on Friday Anna got her first dose.  She is not one to take shots easily but in this case she was eager, knowing it is one step closer to getting more of her life back.  And the boys are only six months away at the latest from being eligible, may be the best birthday gift they could get.  The positive cases for COVID in our county are going down but are still anxious, especially since we had a notice just this week that someone on their school campus tested positive.  Argh!  Thankfully they did not have close contact with them but it still makes us anxious.  

The kids all tolerated their standardized testing well.  Anna has one more week to go and the boys have two, unlucky fifth graders have more subjects they get tested on.  

And in odd news, one of my posts from March was flagged as having issues which flagged the whole blog for about a day.  I sent a note disputing it and they said they restored the post and got rid of the warning about the blog not being a safe site, but for some reason the post has not been restored.  I tried to recreate it but I realized how much I write that I cannot recreate two months later from memory.  A bit of a bummer but at least the blog overall is working properly again.  Now lets hope it stays that way!

Second stripe! Mother's Day!

This week was unexpectedly busy but also very productive.  We got a really big project done and now we get to enjoy!  The weather was rather warm but we continue to enjoy the cool nights which we are thankful for, it helps us all sleep better!  School went well and the kids are dreading next week and we can't blame them.  They will have standardized testing starting on Monday.  It is hard to justify taking away the little time they have instruction to complete standardized testing, and haven't they had enough stress in the last fourteen months.  It is a bummer but there is nothing we can do about it.

On Saturday Olivier got a second stripe on his grey belt!  His hard work is showing and we are extremely proud of him!  

And today we celebrate Mother's Day!  We are very thankful for our mothers who made us who we are today, and the role they have taken on as grandma to our kids.  It is hard to believe over nineteen years ago we were lucky enough to have all of our grandmas and moms with us when we got married.  For that we will always be thankful!

Another quiet week...

It has been nice, we are keeping busy but the weeks have been fairly quiet and predictable.  We had a couple hot days and then it cooled off again which was nice.  A sign that summer is coming but we will enjoy the cool days in the mean time.  

Only four full weeks of school this year left and two partial weeks, we will enjoy the routine while we can!

Nice simple week

This week has been nice and simple.  Not a lot of weird curve balls with schedules or temperatures or activities.  When they happen it feels weird now, but at the same time they are welcome reliefs from all the juggling that we have been doing.  

On Saturday we saw the ponies hanging out in the pasture with their mamas.  Getting bigger quick!  

Matt took Taz to a dog run area in our neighborhood and let him explore with a long leash and when they returned, Taz was very ready for a nap!  

Getting ready for another week!  We shall what adventures we face in this one!  
 

Fire, construction, and finally made it to the beach for Olivier!

Last Sunday, late in the afternoon we heard a lot of sirens.  It got to the point where I was too curious and went to see if I could see anything.  Unfortunately at the top of our street, this is what I saw.  

I could smell smoke and there was a helicopter that came over and circled to evaluate the fire.  It wasn't a water dropping helicopter but clearly checking out the site.  It was a mulch site that had a fire and it was contained to the site but seeing the many fire truck and tractors the fire department took to the site, it was alarming.  Makes me nervous about the fire season to come since we have had a dry winter.  

On Monday I went to see the construction progress for my new work facility and someone took this photo of me standing in what will some day be my office.  Amazing to see the progress! 

On Tuesday we were so thankful to hear they have arrested two individuals related to the disappearance of Kristin Smart who disappeared in 1996 from the Cal Poly campus.  We are praying for her family and with so many connections to the case we are hopeful they are able to find her body and bring some peace to her family after all these year.  And bring justice for the horrible pain inflicted on them not having her here with them all these years.  

On Wednesday I caught our cat Star hanging out in the laundry basket before I brought it back down to the laundry room.  Kitty jail but she was super happy to be in!

And since the kids got their gifts from the Easter bunny Olivier has been asking to go to the beach.  Today was the first day that worked with the temperature being warm enough...barely.  After they got out of the water the were shivering and basically found it impossible to warm up so it was a shorter beach day but maybe Olivier will think twice about begging to go to the beach when we say it is too cold.  Olivier was quick to head out to the water.  

And then Anna and Mason joined him.  Not sure what Anna is doing with her board here...

And a couple times they all three rode a wave in!

One benefit of the cool wind, some kite flying was happening!  

Feels like summer is getting closer!
 

End of Spring Break

This week was cool but sunny.  Olivier wants to go to the beach but the weather all week was not warm enough for the beach, especially with the wind.  On Wednesday and Thursday I took the days off work and enjoyed extra time with the kids.  On Wednesday we went on a hike that ended up being more of an adventure but we made it and enjoyed a frosty as a treat after!  On Thursday we went downtown to see an art exhibition, it was beautiful and colorful!  

After we went to a local park to enjoy a story the parks and rec department put around the path in the park.  And along the path they had exercise equipment which the kids enjoyed.  And I loved getting this photo of them playing on the parallel bars.  

On Friday I got my second COVID vaccine.  I went with someone from work since we had the same appointment time and we have been working together through this pandemic.  We were both very excited and were happy to share the moment - COVID exit buddies!  

Thankfully we have had no reactions!  Matt is getting his second shot next week!  Exciting times!