Soaking Up The Now

His little hands grasped my cheeks as he pulled me closer. "Thank you Daddy! You are the best Daddy in the whole wide world." His lips puckered up signaling it was time for a smooch and I gave him one. With his eyes sparkling and a smile that simply melts my heart every time he uses it, he gave me one of his Super Man hugs, jumped down and he was off in a flash. That was Josh's way of saying thank you for a weekend of birthday fun that was more thanks to his Mom than me (she made the amazing cake pictured).

Josh turn five this past Friday. My little man is growing up too fast. It seems like just yesterday I was trying to get my head around having another child and wondering if it would be possible to love another as much as I loved Zachary. Of course what I found is the heart has an amazing ability to grow big enough to accommodate any amount of love you wish to store in it. So making room for him in there wasn't a problem!

Man where have five years gone? I find myself watching both boys with such wonder and amazement me these days. I look at them and wonder how Kathy and I ever managed to create such incredible creatures. I thank God every day (well I sometimes forget but I have a standing order in with the big guy so He knows) for bringing these boys into my life. They are my greatest teachers as well as my biggest fans and I know that with them, I am the luckiest man in the world. And I am grateful for that.

We spent this past weekend celebrating Josh's birthday in what seemed like a drawn out party that lasted for three days. I found myself enjoying the time with the family more than I ever have as we ate out, went bowling (twice!), played some video games, went biking and just hung out. It was a perfect weekend and one that words can't adequately express but was no doubt chalked full of great memories. Especially the one that I mentioned at the beginning of this post.

Those little hands won't always be little forever. That adoring smile won't always be pointed at me. The Super Hero cape and status that I wear in the little guy's eyes won't always be as cool as it is today. And of course those precious little hugs and belly laughs won't always be there....

But I don't live for the always - I live for the now.

And for now, I want to soak it all up while I can.

Ripple On!!!

Snow Day! Without The Snow.

My eight year old son Zachary watched the news and the early prime time crawler with baited anticipation. The impending storm of 2007 (I have to laugh at our local news coverage) was headed our way and for an eight year old boy that could only mean one thing....

NO SCHOOL!

His excitement and anticipation immediately transformed me back to when I was a young boy back in Albuquerque where snow and ice were a much more regular occurrence than we see today in Austin, Texas. All of those nights camped out on the living room sofa waiting, hoping, and praying to see the beautiful shadow of snow flakes against the street light. That gloaming protection battling fervently against the winter night! The beat of my heart as that billowy light suddenly showed a flake, then two. Oh the excitement when the first dusting of snow started to accumulate. The rare prospect of a day without teachers and homework was almost too much to bear. The baited excitement of mindless hours of snow ball fights, snowman killing (a ritual of destroying of other kid's hand crafted snowmen), football games and countless other adventures that only snow made possible! It was what I lived for as a young whipper snapper!

Well today my son got his wish. No school, though because of ice rather than snow. We just came in from being outside "exploring" and seeing if we could make our recycling bin into a makeshift sled (doesn't work by the way). Zachary is excited because he gets a "free day" and Josh, my three and half year old is just pumped up because brother is jazzed.

It is moments like these that help you reach back and remember what it was like to be a kid. For me, it's a good reminder to lighten up a little and not worry so much about the work as it will be there later today and even tomorrow. It's a SNOW DAY and as Zachary said...I am not too old to have some fun with it!

If only I could make a snow ball! These ice balls really hurt!

Ripple On My Friends!

Steve
aka The Snowman Assassin