Funny Coincidence

For as long as Max and Rebecca have been married, Rebecca and I have been continuously confused for each other when we are around Max and Brent's extended family. Brent and Max get confused for one another too!

Rebecca and I have laughed and shrugged it off when we are referred to as the others spouse. 

In fact our spouses have even confused us from time to time.

Like Max talking to me about getting something out of the car and then realizing, "oh you're not Rebecca."

What really got me thinking was this year when Rebecca told me about the Christmas card we sent.
Our address label has a photo of Brent and I, and apparently Max confused it for a picture of Rebecca and himself. 

I guess it's true.

We kind of do resemble each other.
 Then I started realizing how many photos we have that are fairly similar. 

It is a funny coincidence...

Like the pictures we have of ourselves with our children...

And how we have had similar hair styles, and facial hair styles......

And how Brent and Max did look an awful lot alike when they were younger...

How we have a similar ways of relaxing...

    

We get caught with food in our mouths...

We make similar faces when taking phone calls...

We swoop in and make faces in pictures...

We all had our brace faces at the same time...

.

 We rode the same rides at Disneyland...

 (okay, I'm reaching)

But then of course there are these...

I can see why some people may confuse us for one another...

Pole licking

My phone started ringing as I was poking around the kitchen to make August and I breakfast. The caller ID said "Mitchel" so of course I answer with the appropriate amount of panic and annoyance, because the boys JUST left for school three minutes ago.
The conversation went something like this:

"Mom! I don't know what to do. Brayden has his tongue stuck to a pole." (Bray crying frantically in the background)
"What! How...where are you?"
"We aren't far, we are just on 5th street." (We live on 6th)
"Okay, okay I'm coming with some warm water. Stay with him!"

The tap had already started pouring while I was still on the phone. Waiting for the water to heat I grab a large sized cup. Dash to the back door where my boots are and slip my feet in. I leave them untied, run back to the kitchen and fill up the cup. Then my mind goes through my options with August who is asleep in bed. Being paranoid and frantic I grab his limp body and try to wiggle on his hat and coat. (It was -2 degrees outside) Finally, what seemed like ten minutes (but was actually two) I am heading out of the door, August in one arm and a cup of warm water in my other hand.
To my surprise Brayden and Mitchel were walking towards the house. He had freed himself.
My panic left and was replaced with the humor found in these situations. Being the kind of mom I am, I was halfway hoping he was still on the pole so I could capture the images of Brayden with his tongue stuck.

His shoulders rose and fell with small whimpers. We made our way inside the house. Mitchel was apologizing relentlessly. As I begin to get a choppy narrated version of events. (Apparently Brayden's class had an assembly the day before where the principal addressed pole licking.) Pole licking, of course, made its way into the boys conversation on the way to school. A game of rock-paper-scissors ensued and the loser was to lick the pole. We all know who that was.
Mitchel felt responsible. His eyes glossed over with empathetic tears as he tells me what happened. Brayden at this time is having some warm tea and nodding slowly. Fully embracing the humor in the situation I try comforting him while laughing. I bring up A Christmas Story, and how the classics teach us important lessons. Mitchel continues describing his own panic and how he was unsure if he should call 911 or me. He described their classmates walking by in awe of the situation and helpfully recommending to go get water. Mitchel concludes that "all of Brayden's crying" is probably what did it. He then demonstrated the heavy panting and sobbing that warmed up the area where the tongue and pole were fused. Brayden chimes in to explain his tongue did not "rip" off the pole, it "popped off".

Live and learn! I just never want us to forget these moments of natural consequence.

Ordinary days

I love re-centering.

Taking time to just breathe and enjoy things.

This last week provided great opportunity for that.

It was one of those things that was completely unexpected with just a shift in perspective. 

You feel like it is just going to be an ordinary week, with ordinary things that go on. 

Instead for some reason this time when your ordinary life happens it seems new and wonderful.

Maybe it is because we are just coming down from the busy Thanksgiving rush. 

Or maybe it is because I have finals next week?

All I know is this week our routine seemed perfect.

I love my life.

Brent has always enjoyed playing games with the kids. I am usually not interested because they always choose monopoly. I CAN NOT stand monopoly. Sorry boys! It's true. Also, I am somewhat impatient and easily distracted during our games. I can't wait for them to be more interested in Scrabble!

Anyways one night this week we asked the boys to pick something other than Monopoly.

We have plenty of games to choose from. 

Games that we have bought, or have been gifted to us over the years...

Of course they chose a game that I do not particularly like the name of "Fact or Crap".

It is a game where you get cards and while reading them you decide whether the statements are true or not. Although it offers many interesting tid-bits, I do not like the kids saying "crap" game or not. The game is rated for 8 years old on up?!

It was fun though. Not just playing a game with the boys, but taking the time during the game to recognize how they are growing. How their thought processes are changing. How they are getting more and more mature.

As I looked around the table during the game I realized that my sweet baby was a teenager (something I still need time to get used to).

Brayden was also older. 

A fourth grader. 

After one more year he will be a middle school-er. 

Yikes!

My mind wandered back to the exact conversation that Brent and I decided to have another baby. 

Then there is Brent. 

He was 19 when we met. 

Now here he is over 30. 

I can not believe time has carried us into the center of our adulthood. He often looks at me with adoring eyes and comments on how beautiful I am aging. I am not one of those vain people who fear aging. Fear grey hair and wrinkles taking their earned place on my body, I embrace aging.

So much foresight and wisdom come through living life and to be suspended in youth could never offer what aging has.

Looking at Brent reminds me how much growth can happen in a decade.

 I look forward to an eternity.

Finally the game ended and we moved into our family reading, but not before we played dinosaurs with August.

The boys continued to play while I made them hot chocolate...

 Of course when MOM goes in the kitchen everyone follows...even Cosmo.

 Mitch and Dad (for some reason) got into swinging August around. 

My mom would die if she saw the boys playing in the kitchen.

It makes me laugh how laid back I can be...compared to her.

 Finally the hot cocoa was done and the boys took their places around the table.

August chose the Santa head cup!

Brent mentioned peppermint hot cocoa so the boys looked through all the Halloween candy for peppermint pieces to add to their drinks. As if marshmallows weren't enough!

The boys played with Cosmo while I cleaned up and got ready for our reading time. 

While they were playing I was just engrossed in how cute they are. 

Noticing how well they interact and take care of one another. Knowing that they are bonded to each other. I love seeing their friendships develop and knowing they will sustain anything.

Truly caught up in that moment. 

Where you just can not believe you are so lucky. 

That these souls were put in your care.

 How amazing being a parent is!

And then of course there is also the amazing spouse!

After Cosmo and the boys were all tired we pulled out the books and started reading by the glow of Christmas tree lights.

 *Did I mention I LOVE hardwood floors.*

 It wasn't going to be a deal breaker in the house we bought, but I am glad that the one we fell in love with had them.

Anyways,

Brent has been reading a novel to the older boys for awhile, so he continued that. 

 They all went and climbed in our bed.

After a couple of Christmas books August went to climb in with Daddy and brothers.

 Aren't they adorable all cuddled together!

 Of course that never lasts long with a four year old. August jumped around awhile and the boys just kept listening to their Dad read. 

Then I took August out to help me flip the first day on our Christmas calendar. 

We had another great conversation about the birth of Jesus.

We counted the days of the month and read the special verse for the day!

As usual after reading the boys brushed their teeth and went to bed. 

Brent and I took turns tucking them in and giving them good night kisses.

There is something so peaceful and fulfilling with a houseful of children that are yours. 

To watch them sleeping. To see your son at thirteen years old resemble a memory of a baby in your arms breathing in and out with a fast beating heart. When they are sleeping they totally look just as they did as babes.

So the week was nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary, but enough to make me realize I have so much to be thankful for. Each ordinary day is a gift.