Vacation

We just returned from a week at the beach...It was wonderful. (Nothing like our beach experience last year)(See October 1st, 2007 post for that awful/enjoyable trip down memory lane)

We loved literally every minute of it. There is something so wonderful about having a week where your only priority is to enjoy each other. The boys loved having every minute with their dad (So did I). We loved eating every meal together... We loved laughing with each other over things that sometimes we are too busy here to even notice. Here are a couple of our favorite memories...

1. On the first day we were there we were sitting on the beach eating our lunch when Payton said, "You guys have no idea how badly I have needed this." Obviously in the business of life we had not realized how playing from sun up till sun down was taking its toll on our Pate. :)

2. Benjamin loves to play "I spy"...We love his creativity with the game...Everyone can be playing as normal and then when its his turn he will say, "I spy a mom who wants a diet coke and that's OK...because I am thirsty too...Good idea mom."

3. We loved opening our doors in the morning and smelling the ocean. One morning we opened the door and Payton said, "fresh air and freedom, I can't get enough."

4. Tony's aunt and uncle live in the beach town that we visited...We had a blast being with them every moment we could.

5. Payton is currently fascinated with subtraction. Therefore he wants to know how old everyone is so he can then subtract his age from theirs and tell them how much older /or younger he is. My mom and I have been trying to explain/teach him that women do not like being asked upon first meeting them, "Exactly how old are you?" He is getting better at bypassing this conversation with constant reminders from his mother. I thought we were perhaps done with this stage until he met random lady the other day and when she introduced herself he said, "Exactly how much do you weigh?" NICE. We move from offensive to over the top offensive.

6. Benjamin practiced baseball every chance he got. He took his glove and a ball everywhere. He would pick up a long piece of seaweed and use it as a pretend bat and work on his swing. I told Tony one of my favorite things about this is watching different guys/dads walk by...and how many of them stop, regardless of where we are (Benjamin does his practice swing everywhere) and comment/critique/compliment. So sweet to me...and of course Benj eats it up.

7. I enjoy the ocean, however, I have to concentrate on not thinking about what could possibly be lurking under the water. Watching Payton and Tony go farther out and farther out gave me plenty of opportunities to work on my Lamaze.

8. Benjamin started crying when we had to leave for home. Tony had already explained that he wanted us on the road by 9 AM to try and avoid as much Memorial Day traffic as possible. We have realized that one of the worst things we have done in parenting was teach Payton to tell time. I sat down by Benj and told him I understood, I did not want to leave either, I did not want his dad to go back to work, etc...etc.. As I was consoling him, Payton walked in, pointed to the clock and said, "It's 8:52, you two have 8 minutes to wrap this up." At times it becomes incredibly apparent that in Payton we have duplicated his father.

9. This is right before the guard asked Benjamin to quit messing with million dollar equipment. The dude was hanging on the nose cone...I was taking a pic of his dad and brother.

10.

I took this same picture almost every day of the boys walking home. I loved it...Such precious memories.

Our Life...

1. We got our first package addressed "to the Brooks Girls" the other day from my sweet sister-in-law. I stared at that envelope for forever. We are having so much fun anticipating pink becoming a part of things around here.

2. I wonder how many times a day I use the word Boys. Said in different tones I use it as a:
command- interpreted as "Stop throwing baseballs at the ceiling fan."
question- interpreted as "why are there unrolled rolls of toilet paper all over the bathroom."
warning-interpreted as "I am on my way to find you, if you are found doing something you have been told not to do, trouble is on the way."
blessing-interpreted as "I am so thankful you two are mine."
sigh-while looking at the clock thinking "when does your dad get home?"

3. We have been working the on P and B not slamming doors. The other night they ran inside and once again, every picture was slanted. Tony in an exasperated voice said, "Boys, how many times do I have to tell you not to slam the door." Payton in his most respectful voice said, "Once more would be nice."

4. We have also been working constantly on saying yes ma'am or yes sir. The other night I told P to do something and he matter of fact said "No." I looked back at him and said, "I want you to look at me in the eyes and tell me if there is ever a good time to tell me No." He looked me in the eyes and said, "Well it feels like right now it might work." Tony and I are learning to think through our questions before we ask them.

5. Tomorrow is Tony's Birthday. 9 years ago tomorrow we went on our 1st date. I know I say it every year, but falling in love with Tony was the easiest, most fun thing I have ever done. My insomnia is back full force, so I have had a lot of time to thank the Lord for the sweetness of life that I experience because Tony is my husband...Here are just a few things I love about him:

* The guy is a worker...He is ready to help, fix, build, clean you name it...I always have a peace that whatever it is, he can take care of it.

* I love laughing with him at the end of the day...hearing his take on my day, on his day, on where we are at...One of the best things that Growing Kids God's Way taught was Couch time-the importance of your kid seeing you daily enjoying each other. Our kids see us laughing together daily because that is important to T.

* I love that he insists on me having a 4 wheel drive vehicle "Because you never know" But if I ever tell him I actually used it he gets a bit uptight that I have just possibly torn out the transmission.

* I love it that he knows me the best and still loves me. He has seen every side of me...many of which are hard to love...yet even in the most difficult of times he has continude to be my number one.

* I love it that he is easy to love.

* I love it that he is a healthy eater...I would of been content to order a pizza everyday of my married life and eat desert after that. Thankfully, he calls me and our whole family, to a higher ground...and when he goes on hunting trips the boys and I eat pizza everyday and skittles for breakfast.

* I love it that he is still a mystery. As he allows the Lord to transform him I realize more and more I cannot predict him or his reactions.

* I love it that he enjoys our boys as much as I do.

* I love it that he is still so cute to me.

* I love watching him box, play basketball, play chase, play tennis, play any and everything with our kids...He works hard during the day and comes home tired, but I love watching him come in and engage as a dad immediately.

The list could go on and on...I am so thankful he is mine,so thankful that 9 years ago he called back and said "I know you said you had a lot to do...but you have to eat and its my birthday...Let's go celebrate." The best thing I ever did was say, "Sure." Thank you God for TDB!