Not bad for two: complete with a tail rotor, main rotor, cockpit and pilot (the pilot is one of the two dots in the front).
My suspicion is Matthew will be a good artist, not because this particular work is so amazing and I have delusions of having a child prodigy based off this little scribble (I don't) but because Matthew focuses so diligently on what he is drawing. He holds the pen like a grown-up would and really tries to be accurate. I've also seen him write letters pretty accurately. I could be wrong, but that is my guess.
Over the past few weeks, I'm discovering the importance of getting the kids a chance to burn some energy.
We did gymnastics for a while, which was great but it was expensive (especially compared to the park!) and it is hard to predict how the Molly factor is going to play out so having to commit to something where I had to be on the floor with Matthew and also had to tend to Molly was a little stressful. So we are taking a break from that.
But the boys are not suffering one bit from it! We have really taken to exploring the area on foot increasing the energy output and, I don't think coincidentally, increasing the amount of good behavior around the house.
I think, despite frequenting the parks even before Molly came and having weekly gymnastics, the boys were physically understimulated and I am working really hard to remedy that.
We've been going on hour-long walks, and when we go to the park, we don't just play in the sand as we used to do.
But we run.
Michael couldn't get enough of running. After he was running from one end of the field, he turned around and ran back.
Matthew was down with the running too!
It's been a lot of fun and the boys seem to look forward to their excursions. Molly loves the hour or two hour naps she gets strapped to my chest, and we all love the fresh air.
I'm starting to think having boys is like having a puppy: Don't forget your daily walk!
Yesterday, April 22, was the anniversary of when I delivered baby Gabriel.
It wasn't a terribly emotional day...It was definitely on my mind. We had Mass offered for him (it was even in the bulletin which I kept), Michael got me flowers, I made a cake, and though we pray for the repose of his soul each night at prayers, we made special mention of it during mealtime grace too.
But it was more of a somewhat confusing anniversary. Not bad confusing, but that sort of confusing that makes you realize that God has a plan that includes both cross and resurrection. It makes you glad for joy, but also glad for the suffering without which the joy wouldn't be possible.
Molly is here. Gabriel was here for much shorter of a time. Without suffering the loss of Gabriel, there would be no Molly. I don't rejoice in losing one, but I rejoice at having the other. Certainly contradictions abound in my head, but it is resolved in knowing that each span of life is measured according to God's will be it short or long. Gabriel had (and still has as our prayer warrior) an irreplaceable role in our family and that was how he was to play that role...and now Molly has her role. And though there can be suffering, God can make the suffering work for good.
It's been a year, but our little one who has gone before us is still close to our heart and we hope we are close to his!
Also, the ducks in the pond added some bonus entertainment, but they quickly learned not to get to close to the shore as they made amusing target practice for the boys!
