it's been a while...

My life has gotten so nice and full, kind of like that feeling after you know you've had your money's worth at a buffet. What I mean is there just aren't many free moments to sit and write about the many things I ponder, laugh about or notice on a daily basis. Case in point: Why do people leave their (often times very BIG) dogs off their leashes? I'm an animal lover and I always tell people we had our puppies (Rottweilers, to be exact) long before we had our human kiddos. But here's the deal: dogs are still animals. No one knows what might set a mild dog off or send a calm canine into a frenzy. My son MIGHT smell like pizza and your Lab MIGHT very well like Italian food. Boom! Now you've got your really laid-back 70-plus pound dog chasing my not-quite 50-pound kid who is just starting to warm up to dogs. I've seen MANY a dog owner tell me knowingly, "Oh, he's friendly," only to see their faces and hear their voices eventually strain on the verge of panic when Fluffy doesn't do exactly as he's being told. Come on, even the human ones don't listen all of the time! Yadda, yadda, yadda. GET A LEASH!

Yeah, so I've not written in a long time. And so many times, I actually have something to say. But then the washer beeps or I remember I have an email I must send out or it's already pick-up time and my babies are coming home! It's been a fun ride, this having two boys in school full-time. Hectic and zooming and sometimes insane, but pure fun! Here are some updates for you:

DAVID:
This is my child who'd rather watch a movie than play outside, but we'll have none of that! Well, at least not much during the week. No video games and very little (if any) TV from Monday through Thursday. But there are other fun ways to fill their time. Ok, he doesn't always see homework as fun, but he does enjoy his piano lessons. He's also signed on for Destination Imagination again this year, and he still loves science. David isn't yet required to do a Science Fair project, but that's just not an issue for him. He is psyched to get to participate this year, even though he is only in the 2nd grade. Currently, he is conducting an independent study about molecules (he had wanted to do chemistry but his teacher told him that might be a little too difficult). I spent time earlier this week teaching him the basics of note-taking and research, and then helping him compare the molecular structure of acetaminophen and aspirin. The things his brain can grasp... talk about a beautiful mind!

Earlier this month, while listening to some rock song or another, David said to me, "Mom, I can't understand a word he's saying!" It might have been Metallica, but nothing harder than that. Yet there was my 7-year-old sounding more like a 70-year-old. I told him with a chuckle that what he said was something an old person would say. After this he said nonchalantly, "I FEEL like an old man." Of course I asked all kinds of questions. Basically, he said when he has to get up and down at morning assembly for the pledge to the flags (US and Texas), he feels old. Just some sort of physical confirmation that truly, David is an old soul, even though we still call him Baby David. I could go on, but I'll move on to my baby boy...

DYLAN:
Just call him Mr. Hair Gel. We're talking every morning. He's committed. I have to admire both his attention to detail and his concern for self-grooming and appearance. He doesn't seem obsessed or anything at this point, so that's good. But there is so much more to my little 5-year-old than his good hair. He is currently taking guitar lessons and struggling at times. Despite his love of Elvis and sporting a rock n roll kind of moniker, Dylan would rather be outside playing catch, crossing the monkey bars, skateboarding and just BEING outside. I find that he is fairly concerned with his handwriting as well as wanting to read on his own, which is a great thing. He's also a good friend... there are about five boys in his class that are bona fide buddies at this point. It's really cute to see their interactions and to see how much they all seem to genuinely care about one another. On the other hand, Dylan has described himself on more than one occasion recently as shy or embarrassed. He's not exactly looking forward to his guitar recital next week; suffice it to say he's only been at the thing a couple of weeks now!

During the summer, Dylan started to complain about his knees hurting him once in a while. Long story short, he is scheduled to see a pediatric rheumatologist because his blood work didn't come back perfectly clean. I think the "more scary" might-haves are ruled out but a mother still has to fight off thinking there is something to worry about at times. I have my faith and my prayers and (surprisingly) a peace in my heart. What will worry get me? I think it was Jesus (or some other famous person from the Bible) who said worrying wouldn't gain us an inch in height... do you think I'd still have to lie about how tall I am if that was the case? Therefore, my SugarBear is off to see a specialist in a couple of weeks. So odd that it's my very active, boxing- and gymnastics-loving son who might have an issue with his bones. Fortunately for him, the pain is still pretty rare.

BOYS:
You can see how very different they are; I venture to say they are more different than alike when it comes to personality, preferences and mannerisms. It's easier to tell you how my sons are alike versus how they are different, so here's this.

*They don't:
listen well or quickly
love my new recipes right off the bat
have a lot of patience
like to lose AT ALL
do their chores consistently, even though we're trying the ALLOWANCE thing
have a babysitter, still

*They do:
love their extended families SO much
love video games
enjoy movies as a family (especially episodes of Gilligan's Island, which we're Netflixing)
enjoy each other's company most of the time
pray, together or on their own
care about heart issues like love, forgiveness and peace of mind (they really do!)
love school and learning
love their Daddy
like hanging out on the playscape together
travel VERY well

It's no wonder my life is filled with the lives of my children. Having had them in my 30s, I think I had time to have my OWN life long before having them. And if life is good to me, I'll have a life to call my own once again when they are men of this world. So I don't mind that someone might say I don't have much of a life... though I used to mind this. In truth, it's possible that no one understands me. My selfish side is ALIVE and WELL, believe me. But there is a real joy to choosing everyday to be done with MY life when I pick them up from school, and start to focus on theirs: homework, lessons, play time, dinner, reading time, family talk time, bath time, bed time, etc. My husband helps with all of this big time! And in the morning, it all starts all over again with breakfast, clothes ready, lunches to be made, hugs, kisses, well wishes and final good-byes for the day. It's a glorious cycle that I am so happy to be a part of.

Oh, I almost forgot one other way they are so VERY similar. They both ADORE their Momma!