The Monkey Barrel

Archive for March, 2007

The moon was bright
Just the other day
Phases changing dreamily
The baby was happy for its light
John fell to sleep in its glow
But the moon has since gone dim
Its twinkle has passed
And the kids are so sad
All because I forgot
To change the stinking batteries!

The air is bright
Sun brilliant morning
Birds twittering, preening
Geese and ducks meandering
72 warm degrees
Headed our afternoon way
Senses full to overloaded
Bliss is real

I was a good mom today. I got up after Fred took John to the bus and I played hide and seek under the covers with Luke. Changed all the bed linens and put laundry away while washing and drying more of the same. I cleaned out closets and picked up toys. I played Darth mommy to my Luke Trooper and dressed, redressed, and undressed Tato’s ad-nauseum. I made lunch and read to my baby and put him down for a nap with Buzz and Woody to guard his sleep. Amelia came to play during Luke’s nap and she got a bottle and a dirty diaper change and drifted on to dreamland in my arms. John got off the bus with Ms. Tracy and came home to a house full of the smell of fresh baked cookies and hot choclate for snack and homework. Nemo is on and dinner time is neccessitating a menu, and Amelia is ready for another round with the bottle, but for this moment I am supermom and it feels so good.

There are tiny red and green buds scattering all the trees on stonegate pkwy. One of the many things I truly adore about our neighborhood. I figure in a week or so they’ll be in full flight. The ducks have wandered back, bringing their geese behind them this year. Every year there is a small hope that they’ll build a nest in our yard, but even when they don’t they bring their ducklings to feed on our seed and tumble in our grasses.
My boys are growing so tall. John is reading at a staggering rate and memorizing cartoon and movie lines. His uncle Matt would be so proud. And Luke is talking a blue streak. Stringing sentences and phrases together. I cannot wait for the grass to be lush for their barefeet to find purchase in again.
Spring, the season of hope. I hope it’s promise is the same for you.

The kids are getting writing assignments and John has come up with some very interesting stories. She gives them a topic and then they have to write few sentences about it. Last weeks topic was a real gift that was not a toy and this is what John wrote.

My real gift is Luke.
It is a real gift because I like to play with him.

Included with this sweetness was a picture of John playing blocks with his baby brother. Ain’t he great??

In case your faith in humanity has been slipping, here is a story to restore your vigor. Yesterday while shopping at Wal Mart John lost his spiderman wallet that had three dollars in it. Poor little guy was so down and didn’t want Gramma to tell me because he was afraid I would be mad. Well I wasn’t mad and Gramma took John over to customer service and they filled out a note describing the wallet and its contents. John and Papa prayed that someone would find it and return it. Mommy had little faith that such a small thing would be recovered. Three dollars being just a pittance and the wallet was as inexpensive as they come. In fact I had on my shopping list to buy him a new wallet and give him three more dollars to soothe his wounded little spirit.
A few moments ago a call came in from Wal Mart. They had found a black spiderman wallet with three dollars inside and wondered if this was our John’s wallet. A small miracle, but one that restores a little boys faith in the power of prayer.
Funnily enough he found 5 dollar bills on the playground and just returned them last week. I wonder if it’s owner was as delighted as he will be to have it back. God is in the details…