Sweet Dreams

I am missing tucking two little boys in bed tonight.

The past five days of R & J have been delightful—not to be confused with R & R—which is something entirely different. Our nightly routine included books, drinks, “brush and flush” or as Ryan reminded me sometimes it was “flush and brush”, then a discussion about our Highs, songs, and prayers.

I loved the whole nightly routine but especially the Highs. Here are a few of Ryan’s . . .

On Wednesday, the pirate ship was his High.

At the farm, jumping in the corn was his High.

That was also his High for the next day.

Excuse me a minute, I am going on a tangent . . . I realized this week that I am categorically a beekeepers wife. I noticed that my kids were out of honey. I should have taken some with me but I would have had to check a bag because I cannot carry it on a plane. On arrival, I simply could not buy store bought honey . . . just couldn’t make myself do it. I searched for local honey by looking in the yellow pages and on websites for local beekeepers. Finally I called the local Chamber of Commerce and was given a name to call but that dear beekeeper did not get even enough honey this year for herself so had none to sell but she did know that the farm that I had just visited sold local honey. Thus we returned to the farm the next day after naps.

Another tangent, . . . there are certain times when hubby and I try (usually unsuccessfully) to give each other nonverbal cues to “shut up” “be quiet.” It does seem to me (clear throat) that people are generally not as interested in beekeeping as hubby might think. However, while in the pursuit of fresh local honey, I did have an “aha moment” realizing that I am a believer. How about that? A real beekeepers wife.

At the farm entrance gate, we were recognized and graciously allowed go play again without paying the entrance fee since it was late in the day and thus Ryan had the same High two days in a row.

On Saturday evening after the boys’ mommy and daddy had returned home, Ryan’s High was playing football with Daddy. I did not get any photos of that but it was indoors and very high energy, reminding me of why God gives children to young people.

Where was I? Oh, yes, talking about Highs. Ryan and I usually helped Jacob with articulating his daily High but after we made suggestions, the final choice was his. Consistently, his Highs involved water.

At the children’s museum . . .

With a friend . . .

At another children’s museum . . .

But not when it involved getting his hair washed. His other favorite is anything with wheels.

It could be riding a train . . .

But he was truly in his element when we discovered this huge Thomas Train playset!

My Highs were so many . . . let’s see. Hearing two year old Jacob talk, constantly. One family friend described him as persistent. I definitely agree. At this young age, he knows what he wants or does not want and how to get his point across. I love everything about this little guy—his sweet little paws, his cheeks, his chubby legs, his laugh, his sense of humor and even his mischievousness.

When he wants to do something by himself, he says, “Try it,” softly at first but stretching out the word and with increasing volume and repitition in relation to the degree of help that I want to give.

Jacob knows many letters of the alphabet but if he doesn’t know one, he points to it and says, “Nice try.”

When I sat cross-legged on the floor, Jacob would back up to me and sit in my lap and then I would tickle him a little and he would giggle and giggle and then get up and run away. Soon he would come again, backing up saying, “Again.”

And I love everything about this big guy, too. I love how he loves to pretend.

Listening to Ryan is definitely one of my Highs. He often says an unprompted, “Thank you,” both to me and his little brother. He looks out for his little brother, giving him boosts, finding his toys, reaching things for him in the car. What a sweetie.

Here are a couple of little conversations that I remember.

Ryan came out of his bedroom dressed in jeans.
G’ma: Ryan, it is going to be a pretty warm day. Would you like to wear shorts?
Ryan: No, see this matches. My shirt is blue and my pants are blue. Daddy likes to match. If you wear a red shirt then you wear red and if you wear a blue shirt then you wear blue. There aren’t any blue shorts in my drawer and I need to match. I want to be like Daddy.

I was rinsing out a few straws to use for a “science experiment” because I was not sure if there were any straws in the house. When Ryan asked what I was doing, I told him. He responded, “We recycle, reuse, recycle, reuse.”

Ryan lines his stuffed animals up in front of the toy closet. When “new” toys are rotated in and out of the closet, his animals get moved.
I overheard this little conversation while riding in the car.
Ryan: I just can’t do everything.
Mommy: What are you talking about, Ryan?
Ryan: My animals. I just can’t stay on top of them. I put them back and the next time I look they are messed up. I just can’t stay on top of them.
Mommy: Hmm. I think you are going to have to talk to Daddy about that.

Ryan: Is tomorrow Sunday?
G’Ma: Yes, it is.
Ryan: That is my favorite day!
G’Ma: Is that because you like to go to church?
Ryan: No. It’s because of Sunday night football! I love football! First we move all the furniture to the side of the room. Then me and Daddy watch football and during commercials we play football and we tackle and Daddy tries to make Jacob and me fumble and we throw passes. I looooooooooove Sunday night football!

Last night, Ryan graciously invited me to sleep in his room by his bed.

I am so missing tucking little boys in bed tonight.

Postscript: I woke up Monday morning singing in my head, "Wag the Dog." I will be better soon.