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Our friend Patricia just sent me this link — Click here for a great Op-Ed in the New York Times today titled “Off to Work She Should Go.”
Two Things I’m Lovin’ About My Boyz Lately:
First, I should premise this by saying that actually both of these things are true about both of my boys. It is just that Owen does the first a bit more than Kyle, and Kyle does the second a bit more than Owen. I just want to be clear, though, that they both do these things regularly (like, all the time lately; like, multiple times every day)…
Second, I have to say that as much as we’d love to be able to take credit for these two things (because I sincerely think they are extremely admirable characteristics), Braydon and I actually did not teach them these things (at least not in any explicit way that we are consciously aware of). These two things are all Kyle and Owen.
Mr. Complimentary / A.K.A. Owen
Lately, Owen is soooo complimentary. He is just full of compliments all the time. This has been going on for a few weeks now, so it appears to not just be a flighty passing short-lived phase. Owen just loves to give compliments. And the best part about it is that he seems completely and utterly sincere with his generous complimentary gestures. I actually truly think he really does feel these things– he’s not just saying them because of the (adoring) reaction he gets. He compliments people regularly. “Mommy, I love your shoes!” “Papi, I love your pants!” “Alex, I love your necklace, it is so beautiful! Alex, you are so beautiful!” “Hi! Oh! I love your eyes!” “Your car is so nice!” “I love this food Mommy! Thank you for this yummy in my tummy supper Mommy! This is my favorite mommy!” “Oh, Papi, I love your earring!” It isn’t excessive; it doesn’t sound over-done when he does it; it feels like you’re getting a true compliment. Everyone that has conversed with me about this (which is several people) tells me that they truly feel so flattered when he does it. Somehow he just spreads the joy and spreads the love. Owen is Mr. Complimentary.
Mr. Inclusivity / A.K.A. Kyle
Lately, Kyle is soooo inclusive. He just seems to truly live by the motto “the more the merrier” all the time in all endeavors with all activities whether they are large or small, spectacularly special or mundane. This too has been going on for a few weeks now, so it appears to not just be a flighty passing short-lived phase. Kyle just loves to welcome people in and embrace them into his life. He seems to genuinely want to include people in all that there is to be included in. And, again, as with Owen, the best part about this is that Kyle seems completely and utterly sincere with his generous inclusive gestures. I actually truly think he really does feel that he wants to invite people to join him in these things– he’s not just including them because of the (adoring/surprised) reaction he gets. He is incredibly inclusive toward people regularly. “I’m having my birthday party on May 8th! You can come?!” “We are going to the grocery store now. You want to come with us?!” “You want to come to our house and watch a video?” “I have good pasta Mama. You want to have some with me?” “Come on Papi! Let’s go play!” “Hi! What’s your name? You want to try my ice cream?” “We’re going on vacation! On a big airplane! You can come with us!!!” It isn’t excessive; it doesn’t sound over-done when he does it; it feels like you’re truly being included in something special. You feel special. Everyone that has conversed with me about this (which is, again, several people) tells me that they truly feel so flattered when he does it — like Kyle is including them in his “inner circle” — like Kyle is genuinely living out an open heart and an inclusive spirit. Somehow he just spreads the joy and spreads the love. Kyle is Mr. Inclusivity.
For awhile now I’ve been reading the Mayhem and Magic Blog. I’ve linked to it before on our blog (click here for that link). Today the post there is really great. Click here to read today’s Mayhem and Magic Blog post “Talking to Adoptive Parents.”
Snorkeling 101 is well underway (click here). Braydon’s diligence and patience (and sheer determination) are paying off; even I must admit, Snorkeling 101 is going very well. Braydon has been the ever-so-earnest Instructor since he committed himself to this ‘project.’ Regarding the Instructor… In true Braydon fashion he is kind and supportive toward his pupils, while at the same time driven to see them succeed. Anyone who knows him can imagine. I’ll leave it at that. ;0 Owen has been an eager and enthusiastic pupil right from the start. Always ready to jump at the bathtime opportunity to put on the mask and tell his Papi all the things he “sees under there!” (he sees “dolphins!” “Swiper the Fox!” “fishes!” etc., etc., etc., “under there!”). He has recently begun a new phase of the training — blowing bubbles “under there!” He can blow “big bubbles” and “little bubbles” and can watch them underwater through the mask. His only snorkeling ‘issue’ thus far is his over-enthusiasm for the activity. Braydon can’t seem to get him to stop kicking (thus splashing the bathwater all over the bathroom) while he’s looking underwater. Kyle has been a more hesitant pupil. After his first mask-wearing-experience (when he reported the mask to be “too tight”) he has been less-than-happy about the Snorkeling 101 exercises. However, in recent evenings he’s been more and more enthusiastic about wearing the mask and trying out the under-water-bathtime-sight-seeing-adventures. And tonight Kyle had a major breakthrough in his training. He spent virtually the entire bath bobbing back-and-forth between being submerged underwater with his mask (seeing “star fish!” and “an octopus!” “under there!”), and bolting upright (see photo above) with a huge proud grin to ‘high five’ his Papi-Snorkeling-Instructor. (Honestly, it was one of the cutest things I think I’ve ever seen between any father and any son ever). Tonight the boys had a special lesson — they got special training in looking at each other underwater with the masks on! Yes, Snorkeling 101 is going very well indeed!
… first thing in the morning you’re already outside playing in the sandbox… in your pajamas!
(note: you can click on this photo to see it larger)Today we went to a Kite Festival & Earth Day Celebration at our favorite nearby park — Tinicum Park (click here). Lots of beautiful kites to see flying high, lots of folks with picnic blankets (including us!), and lots of fresh air and sunshine. Part of the festivities included a kite-making workshop for kids. Kyle and Owen each made a paper kite (well, to be more accurate: Braydon and I each made a paper kite for Kyle and Owen). That’s no matter….. they/we loved it! There was just enough of a breeze on this gorgeous 80+ degree spring day for the kites to fly high if the boys ran fast enough in the fields of Tinicum Park. Honestly, it was just so darn beautiful, I felt like we were in some kind of living Hallmark card or something. The pictures don’t nearly do it justice.
We’re over extended, stressed and tired; any of you who have read the blog know this. And for all the rewarding aspects of our life, we just have a lot going on – sometimes too much.
Heather is constantly stressed out about food – making dinner, shopping, planning, breakfast, lunch. She works so hard to have healthy meals for our family and our boys. She makes every effort, every day to expand their horizons with food.
I just try – mostly unsuccessfully – to keep the laundry up-to-date.
So, it’s Saturday night – we’ve had a great day out and about and it’s a beautiful night. We’re going to unwind and reconnect by watching a movie. Heather a little apologetically says to me: “I thought we’d have Caesar salad for dinner – is that ok?” I say sure – thinking that we have some romaine and a bottle of Caesar dressing.
But then she says: “Would you like blackened shrimp on that?” And I cock an eyebrow, look over and she is getting out shrimp to make (blacken them herself). I notice that she has just made a whole batch of homemade croutons. And then I realize she is also making the dressing from scratch.
And I realize that I am absolutely the luckiest and most appreciative man on Earth.
And I realize, that although I live with her and know her better than anyone, I just have no idea how she does it all.
Today we met up in Doylestown for a Starbucks & Playground playdate/date with our new friends Shelli and Lori and their daughter Zoe (click here for their blog). We met them at the Easter Egg Hunt (click here), and over the past couple weeks we’ve been setting up plans to get together. This kind of thing always feels a little strange in the beginning… Braydon and I always joke with each other that it is like “couple’s dating!”… but with these new friends it took no time for us to feel like long-lost-known-each-other-forever-kind-of-friends. Indeed, Kyle and Owen did act like they have known Shelli and Lori their whole lives… hugging and kissing them hello and goodbye and Owen even riding on Shelli’s shoulders for our walk through Doylestown. And even though she’s actually only about six months younger, K & O treated Zoe like she was their precious baby sister… sharing their chocolate milk with her, rubbing her adorable hair (see photo #2 above!), “doubles swinging” with her, etc., etc., etc. Seriously, as of today, all kids everywhere should take notice now— I wouldn’t want to mess with Zoe if I were you… you’ll have Kyle and Owen to contend with!!!!!!!! LOL! It was a beautiful day, and the sunset tonight is spectacular, and amidst all our excitement about the trees and flowers being in full bloom, we are really most excited about a new friendship blooming.
If you look closely you can spot Kyle, Owen, and Zoe
Three swings swinging
Zoe & Kyle double swing
Zoe
Kyle
Owen
There is a whole back-story to this Kyle-Owen-Garbage-Truck-Trash-Guys thing… click here and here. Kyle and Owen do, indeed, have an unusual love of the garbage truck… and their relationship with our trash-collector-guys is probably even more unusual. Friday is trash day. It was a beautiful spring morning, the boys got to wear their new spring jackets for the first time (thank you Grandpa Robert and Miss Carol!!!), they were in even-more-great-than-usual-moods… it was the perfect backdrop for Trash Truck Day. And they were waaaaay into it today. The pictures tell the story.
They use the red wagon to bring trash to the end of the driveway.
And then they wait. Before long… the trash truck arrives!!!
Big waves “hello” all around!
They put the trash into the truck (and have a nice chat or two while they’re at it)…
And then before waving goodbye, they take some time to admire the wheels (they went on to admire the bumpers, the muffler, the inside of the cab, the steering wheel, the horn…)…
Once the truck is gone from sight, then it is back down the driveway in the red wagon…
… “super fast!”…
… park the wagon in the garage and take a spin on the “helicopter”… and the day begins!
So – everyone talks about “Finding Nemo“. Kids love it, they wear T shirts and have stuffed animals. Our kids had never seen it and didn’t know what it was. So, I thought – why not – let’s give it a try -and I got it from Netflix.
I watched it a little to make sure it was ok. And I tried to watch it as through K&O’s eyes. But you can never really see it through someone elses‘ eyes.
So we’re sitting there watching Nemo. It starts off with the mommy and papi clown fish living on the edge of the reef with all their hundreds of baby eggs (and one of which they name Nemo). Then a barracuda comes along, kills the mother and eats all but one of the eggs (Nemo). Sheesh! Of course they don’t show it, but ugh!
Cut to the next scene and 1st grader Nemo is going off to the first day of school. Where he is promptly kidnapped by a Scuba diver and taken from his papi. The “Finding Nemo” part ensues.
Yes, yes, I know, it’s a nice story about growing up and learning and loving, etc. But sheesh – how do I explain this to my almost three year old adopted twin boys?
So – I skipped over the missing mommy part, the Scuba diver part, the chasing Nemo part and the school part and it came out something like this:
Owen: “Papi. That papi fish so sad? Why he so sad?”
Papi: “Well…. he only has one baby and he wants two babies. Just like Papi has two babies. I am so happy I have two babies. And that papi fish wants two babies just like me.”
Owen: “You’re so happy you have two babies?”
Papi: “Yes, I am so happy I have two babies.”
KYLE QUOTES
Kyle Quote 1: This afternoon, in the car, on the way home after work/daycare Kyle says “Mommy, are you so happy you have two babies?” “Yes!” I said. And Kyle said, “I’m so happy you have two babies too!”
Kyle Quote 2: We have been spending a lot of time around here talking about the boys’ much-anticipated upcoming birthday party. Kyle, in particular, talks a ton about his birthday “coming soon.” He does, in fact, talk about it incessantly. The VIP guest list, the “candle cake,” the balloons, etc… these are all things Kyle talks endlessly about. Interestingly, however, he has never yet mentioned even once anything about presents. I think this is cool. But at the same time, now that the date is actually right around the corner, I figured I should try to get a sense of what my boy might want for a birthday present. Today I broached the topic for the first time. I have ideas in my mind, of course, about what I want to get the boys for their birthday present(s)… after all, you only turn three once!!! But I thought I should see what Kyle had in his own mind regarding presents. Little did I expect what was revealed. Here is what happened in the midst of one of his rambles about his birthday…
Heather: Kyle, baby, do you think there will be presents at your birthday?
Kyle: Yes. Yes, there will be presents. One for me, and one for Owen. We have to open them.
Heather: Oh! Yes! And what do you think is going to be inside the present for Kyle?
Kyle: There is a present inside.
Heather: Yes! What is the present going to be?
Kyle: It is a trombone for Kyle. And a big bassoon for Owen.
…… eeks!!!!!!!!!!!??!!!!! ………
OWEN PHOTOS
Owen Photo 1:
Owen Photo 2:
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