Thursday, March 24, 2011

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

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

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