Letters to My Sons - April 2013

It's time again for the next installment of the "Letters to Our Children" blog circle where a group of talented moms and photographers capture their lives. Enjoy!

This letter might be a long one, especially since I skipped my letter in March. Well, I guess, I should explain that. We were fortunate enough to take a month off from our busy lives and head to Spain. This was no easy feat and one that was debated at length by Momma and Papi. Taking a 2 and 4 year old to Europe for a whole month; two thoughts came to my mind. Either this could go extremely well, or this could go REALLY bad. I am happy to announce that all went well, and you my boys, have shown me how adaptable and adventuresome you both are.

#1 - Where do I start? You are growing up before my eyes, literally growing. I have just had to upsize your pants since you grew about an inch and a half in two months. You were so excited about our trip to Spain. We talked about the things that you might see, the things that you might hear, the people, the buildings. You came home from school with a map; a map that you had made. This was your map for Spain so you could help us figure out where to go. You started using it in the back of the car, at first, and directed my driving wherever we had to go. In the days before we left on our excursion, you so eloquently stated that the pilot didn't need his copilot anymore. Yes, my dear, you had decided that you would sit next to the pilot and show him how to fly the airplane to Spain with your map! Your ingenuity, your confidence, & your creativity will never cease to amaze me. Once in Spain, you didn't care where we were as long as you could find sticks and a little dirt. You turned yourself into a backhoe, an excavator, or a firetruck by holding the sticks to the front or back of your body. I hope that you can continue to make the best out of what can be a challenging situation. Speaking of challenges, the new food was not something you proved to be adaptable too. I am afraid to admit that you subsisted for a month on fruit, noodles, white bread and a whole lot of treats. You are growing right? That makes me feel better! You also had many breakthroughs while we were in Spain. You started drawing and painting...not that you hadn't ever done either before. But, I have always considered it a struggle to get you to pick up a crayon or a marker. Your love of "Bob the Builder" had spurred your creative side...oh, and that theme song that you just won't quit singing. The objects of your artistry you ask? None other than Scoop, Muck and Dizzy and Roley too (you've got to know "Bob the Builder" to understand this). So enthralled with your new skill set you were, you decided that you needed to mail one of your paintings to a museum in Spain. Yes, you told me that you would be staying to fill your role as the next famous Spanish painter. You also went from the kid who refuses to speak a word of Spanish to competing with your brother about who knows more Spanish words!

April has been a blur. We have settled back into daily life and have been enjoying what spring is offering us. You have taken to "rock climbing" since our trip to Spain and have been ever eager to start climbing the trees in the back yard. Our neighbor boy tried to explain the technical aspects of rock climbing to you one day with one person on the ground belaying the other. Oh how funny it was to hear the conversation going on between a 4 year old and a 7 year old! Since then, however, you have taken to stringing up many ropes in the trees to assist you with your climbing skills.

 #2- My love, you are so fun and adventurous. You really enjoyed going on our trip to Spain and you traveled much better than in my wildest dreams. You loved the people, the horses, the freedom. Many times you could be found engaging the people of Spain. You would smile, wave, and speak to most anyone. Everyone is interesting to you; everyone is a friend. Our bus and train rides proved to be the perfect place for you to meet new people. Once, you were playing with a women who was riding the train home from work. When she got off at her stop, you burst out in tears; for you didn't understand  that she was leaving. You were so upset that you had not been able to tell her goodbye. The cities were full of horses and carriages. Most days, you were able to get up close to view the them. I'm not sure what exactly draws you to horses, but they have enamored you for as long as I can remember. Maybe it's those big, soulful eyes that speak to you? You grew so comfortable in the cities. You didn't have a problem wandering off or running down the narrow, crowded streets or playing in the plazas. It was me that had a problem letting you get more than an arms length away. You are a boy who follows your own heart. The motorcycles delighted you. You have long been passionate about motorcycles and there were more than you could count. Every day your eyes lit up. Were they parked? Did they have a lock? Did their riders have helmets? Were they on the street or on the sidewalk? These are just some of the many things that we investigated. I hope I never forget the sight of you drinking real chocolaty hot chocolate and the thick ring of chocolate coating your face. I hope I never forget you running through the squares after all of the pigeons shouting "PALOMA" (the spanish word for pigeon). I hope I never forget how you played on that Mediterranean beach.

Now, back at home, you are my pal in the garden. You are eager to get out your shovel and dig, dig, dig. Just today, you were making mud and had yourself covered from head to toe. What a sight you and your brother were and I had to suppress my inner joy at seeing you so happy and proud for fear that this will become our new normal!

I am so proud to be a mother to both of you. You give me so much to be thankful for. I love you more than you will ever know.

xoxo,
Momma

Please read the next letter in this blog circle "Letters to Our Children" by the talented Jacqueline Mix