A Reminder I Needed

It seems like we stayed pretty busy this weekend, yet it was pretty low key with lots of extended family time.  It was just what we all needed.  With a winter that seems like it will never end and an uneventful Spring Break week for the boys starting, they're going a bit stir crazy and with everything I have going on outside of our house right now, I was losing focus on what is truly important and where my head and heart need to be, which is inside my house.

I'll admit that we've had our share of ups and downs with our Greyson boy.  He's smart, he's funny, he has a heart of gold, and he is a HANDFUL!  But as I looked back through my pictures from this weekend I saw a common theme among them.  Greyson doing wonderful things for our family!  While I was focusing on the bickering, the things being left strewn throughout the house, the back talk, food preparations for the week, etc. I was missing something special that I'd captured, but hadn't fully SEEN!  I'd been missing my son's kind heart doing great things and showing his true personality.

On Saturday morning Greyson woke before Owen and gave me a big hug.  He looked up at me with his big blue eyes, still sleepy, with an apprehensive smile on his face, and asked if we could make a donut run in our PJ's.  Sometimes you just have to say yes to these things and the look on his face when I granted his wish was worth it.  I told him that we'd go as soon as Owen was up, but that didn't mean he could go wake his brother.  20 minutes later we were in the car.  :-)  Don't let the bathrobes and no jackets fool you, it was only about 20 degrees outside...we just park close to the door and make a run for it!

Owen picked out his treats which included a mini knee cap (one of his favorites), then Greyson added his selections to the box and chose one for his daddy who was running 13 miles at the gym...just what he needed after that!  Then when it came time to pay, Greyson whipped out his money clip and said it was his treat!  He asked again if I was sure I didn't want anything, then paid for the donuts.  How sweet!

On Sunday afternoon we ran to get another load of firewood (remember that never ending winter I mentioned???)  and had a late lunch at my aunt's house.  When we got home the boys helped Brian unload the wood into the garage and Greyson offered to bring some into the house.  I think he outdid himself!

The boys played pretty well together for most of the afternoon, dressing up in old Halloween costumes, hunting for moose, and Greyson built a fort in Owen's room.  At bedtime Greyson asked if he could have a sleep over with Owen since they didn't have school the next day.  While we still did need to get up at the regular time so that Brian and I could get to work, I felt bad that we didn't really have any spring break plans so I said yes.  The boys decided to sleep in the fort and Greyson got out the sleeping bags and blankets for them.  They chattered on and on like they used to do when they shared a room and about 45 minutes later when I got into bed to read for a bit I kept hearing Greyson asking Owen to PLEASE be quiet so he could go to sleep.  Typical...Owen has always been the party animal!  Not to mention that he loves attention from his big brother so I think this was some time he was savoring.  

Being their mother is the most amazing blessing I could ever imagine.  Caring for my family is the greatest gift I can give them.  Making them feel loved and nurtured and letting them know they are important, unique and appreciated gives me such joy!  Even if I have to remind myself to slow down sometimes so that I actually SEE these things as they are happening.  

And on a lighter note....I think the Easter eggs are going to stick out like sore thumbs for our egg hunt on Sunday, don't you???