Living in the Moments...

I didn't want to go out today. I wasn't in the mood. Although, the weather was gorgeous. Not windy. Not cold. Just right. I still didn't want to go out. I sat on my couch looking at the events of what was taking place in my house. Boy #2 spinning around and around and around as fast as he could on the computer chair. A baby doing a handstand on the couch next to me and then running to the end of the couch to stand on the arm of it - teasing me. Boy #1 packing up his backpack with random items for survival as he puts it. One of the items being a metal measuring tape that he pulls back and forth as I keep reminding him that he can cut his hand if he lets go too fast.

So I sit. Trying to focus on my book. I don't read much during the day but I picked up the Sheri Dew book "Nobody Can Take Your Place." I didn't get far. Obviously.

I got up. Still refusing to go outside. I sat and played cars and dinosaurs with boy #2 and baby. Baby likes to throw cars. It hurts. He likes to play Godzilla (although he has no idea who that is) and destroy the dinosaurs that his brother so perfectly set up. Boy #1 is still wandering around finding random stuff.

Dinner is served. Threats are made. Eat or go sit in timeout. They eat. After eating Boy #1 begins playing with said measuring tape. Dang it - I obviously didn't hide it well enough. I begin to remind him that he can get hurt. He cuts me off and tells me the story of when he lived in NYC he cut his hand with a measuring tape when he was 3. Good memory kid. So I take it away again. This time I put it in the gravy bowl high up in the cupboard. He'll never find it there. Nor will I. Boy #1 keeps talking. Asking us if we remember what happened to Boy #2 in Las Vegas. Boy #2 responds with a exclamation "Yeah! But at least now I can whistle!" He puckers his mouth and blows. Not even close to whistling but I smile and giggle and say "very good." His zillion dimples in his cheeks come out and it's hard not to just melt at that moment. He asks me why I'm giggling. I say "Because you're so darn cute and fun." He smiles again.

Bedtime is approaching. I'm on my own tonight putting all three boys to bed. I hate this part of the day. So I decide we'll go for a walk. Baby in stroller. Boy #2 running. Boy #1 riding his scooter. This is the first walk we've done while living in this neighborhood. Our neighborhood is full of hills. I mean hill after hill after hill. We begin our adventure. We come to our first hill. Boy #1 is ahead of me and he begins the decline. I was not able to prep him for this. I watch. I hold breathe. I clench my teeth. I pray and I hope that when he crashes that he lands in the grass and not the trees. Boy #1 screaming with Joy and excitement all the way down. Boy #2 running after. Screaming with excitement just because. Boy #1 crashes. Luckily in the grass. He gets up and yells "Mom! That was the coolest! Can I do it again?!" I laugh. I say no. Not right now.

The walk is over. We get home. I put baby to sleep. Then I put Boy #1 and Boy #2 down. Boy #2 wants me to sit with him on his bed and hold him and rock him for a minute. I can't resist. He is growing up way too fast. I hold him. I kiss him goodnight and I tuck him in. I lie on the floor. I sing "I am A Child of God." and "I Love to See the Temple." They are asleep. But I stay and I listen. I feel peace. I feel joy. I feel life. And I am grateful.