The Swing Set

So for your first birthday I remember mom and dad deciding to give you a BIG gift..your very own swing set.  Fast forward to your upcoming 2nd birthday and it's still not here. I almost lost hope in this said gift of yours, but one day mom noticed dad was super productive around the house. Not only was he productive but it was almost as if he was looking for something to do. Now, you'll learn that this is similar to a solar eclipse, it just doesn't happen that often. So when it does, you take advantage of it. 

Mom is no dummy, so she thought long and hard on what she would like to use dads energy for. By golly, building a swing set seemed like the perfect project for our active dad. So off he went to buy it. He was a little hesitant once he reached the store and realized how labor intensive this would be. He even called mom to check that this was a good idea. Since mom wants to save us on Ebola, E. Coli, Flu, and high fevers from public swing sets...and because she didn't actually have to do any of the swing building herself, she assured dad this was a good choice. 

 

Well....some words may have been eaten 5 hours in to the project and nearly nothing was done, except for the sunshine. So dad put up all his supplies and tried again the next day. More progress was made, but nothing near being done. So, with much more anger, dad put away all his supplies again and tried again the next day. Dad started at 6:45 AM, worked in the rain and lightning, and stopped for nothing other than lunch. TWELVE hours later, we had ourselves our very own tree house, duel sides, rock wall, fort, swing set! 

  

 

You are obsessed with it! Phew. That would've been a bad bad day had you not liked this contraption. Dad said the look on your face was worth every minute of it...he also may be delusional now.  I have to say, I enjoy it too. You go up the stairs, I jump in the window. You go down the slide, I jump out the window. Quite a fun set up. 

All joking aside, we are so thankful that dad built this. He spent so much time and muscles (he's laying next to me now telling me he will not be able to move tomorrow) to make sure he built you something you loved. 

He treated himself to his favorite ice cream and you were treated to moms first ever homemade Popsicle while we swung and listened to the thunderstorm. 

 

We love you dad and thank you for making sure we feel so loved. 

Love,

Nelson 

I Love You

Kind of a lame title...not a lot of creativity, huh? Well, I couldn't think of any better way to put it other than, I love you. 

Today we spent the day enjoying the gorgeous spring afternoon. We started our morning with our usual walk, but then decided it would be fun to go see grandpa and the garden store. As usual, you seem to put a smile on the face of anyone looking, including my own. Despite your spicy attitude, you are a hoot to watch. A girl on a mission for plants. 

We enjoyed a lovely lunch of "bitch" or as I like to call them, chips, and "cheeeeeese" and cuddled before your nap. 

I was eager for you to wake so we could go dig in the garden. Mostly I dug, Nelson sat in the holes, and you watched. 

We ended our evening with a walk to the park with Bryn and Brody, followed by your second golf cart ride of the day to see some deer. 

I can't tell you how many times today I just looked at you and couldn't find words to describe how much I love you. I guess those words are supposed to explain it, but it just doesn't seem enough. 

As you round the corner towards the "terrible twos" I can see why some people dread this age. Overnight you've come to love the word "NO", have thrown a tantrum (or two) in public, and have just not listened because you're mad. 

 

But at the same time, you have asked for my "hand" to hold, given me kisses with a huge smile, snuggled in closer, and eagerly run to show me all your proud accomplishments.  You WANT to spend time together, no matter what we do. Garden, play in daddy's truck, walk around the neighborhood, sit on porches, get the mail, play in our bed, or even put away laundry. I am so grateful on how much you love me, dad, and Nelson and how nothing is more fun for you then just us. 

As we began to wind down our night I saw you start to dance your heart out on Kenny's golf cart. You smiled and shook and wiggled and stomped your feet. It was pure joy and freedom. I pray so deeply hard that you have that pure joy and freedom for as long as you possibly can. Dance freely and happy, for you light up the lives of everyone around. 

I put you to bed and sang you a song and snuggled you longer than usual ...just to show you how much I love you. 

 

Love,

Mom