Three years ago...

Three years ago I first met you.  I cannot hardly imagine life before you.  I do remember talking to my sister (your mom) on the phone many days and nights prior to your arrival, as normal.  We discussed you and what all we could expect.  What I didn't expect was the lack of availability I would have to speak to your mom via phone calls after you were born.  You really put a halt to all our every-day conversations.  You would inevitably interrupt our conversations with crying, and we ended up hanging up without many goodbyes. 

Last night as I talked to your mom on the phone, on your last evening being two-years-old.

Look on the roof...on the top of our house...on the top...

See the squirrel?  See that creature?

That's a squirrel.  That's what Roxy was barking at.

I think it's going to jump into the tree!

This was exactly how she answered my phone call.  I love hearing your little voice on the other end of the phone.  You are always full of excitement and stories and chitter chatter. 

You're more than I imagined when your mom and I used to talk on the phone for hours.  I never could have imagined the love I feel for you.  I am always excited to see you or talk to you on the phone -- that is when you decide you feel like talking.

"What would you like Aunt Kristi to get you for your birthday?

"No, my dad is going to give me a Duck Hunting birthday party!"

"Okay..."

You're you, and that's everything that's perfect about you. 

Happy Birthday, Nephew.  You mean more to me than you'll ever know.



Lenox-Scape

I'm keeping my face to the sun...

He puts the Aww in Awesome

My little, yet not so little, brother is celebrating his birthday today.  We are celebrating his birthday today.  Fourteen.  He is no longer such the little brother that I feel like I need to care for and protect (although I forever will), but now are the years we can bond, and I can impart upon him knowledge and experience that I have learned through my years.


What I love about our relationship is that I feel like I can help guide him through the tough teenage years because I've been there, in that same household, in the same town, with the same parents.  That's what siblings do -- they have each other's backs, keep secrets with and for each other, and want the best for one another.  We love a different kind of love, a perfect and never-wavering love.


This year he is into electronics -- video games, video-creating (check out his YouTube channel here), and magic.  What I can appreciate is these are the same things that he has always had an interest in.  They're his passion.  He's passionate.  About family.  About being a good person.  I admire these things about him.


I like how he still smiles the same.  And how I love him just the same.  Forever and always will he be the brother I always hoped for.  And whom I love with all my heart.

Happy, wonderful, special birthday, brother of mine.  You are the icing on our family's cake.  You have the best qualities (besides the not-able-to-keep-a-clean-room thing).  

Feeling Fall

This weekend, we kicked it into fall gear.  Kaden had his fourth football game, the fourth game their team has won so far, and the first of which we needed blankets and hot chocolate to keep us warm. Which was a little heavenly. 


We attended a BBQ fundraiser for Kaden's football team with amazing food, raffles, and a live auction.  Guess how many raffle items Kylie won.  One?  Two?  Nope, three.  Including the Mizzou tumblers that Keane entered!  They happily drank from them this weekend.  We have been to this fundraiser three years now, and each year Kylie has won a raffle.  The first year an MU wreath, and the second year an MU rug.  Lucky girl, she is.

I made two types of pumpkin cookies, and we set out fall decorations in our front yard.  We even started a fire for the first evening this season in our outdoor woodstove.  Fall is upon us, the leaves are slowly beginning to change colors, and the crisp air welcomes our breath. 

Kylie and I worked on her cheerleading jumps, and I recalled a few that I remembered from when I cheered.  I thoroughly enjoyed doing these jumps with her, except for the fact that my legs are so sore two days later!

Speaking of lucky, Kylie and I found a lucky clover patch, where she found her first four-leaf clover two weeks ago.  This weekend she found 9 more, plus 1 five-leaf clover.  Kaden found his 2nd and 3rd four-leaf clover, and Keane found his very first 2 four-leaf clovers.  I found 5 of my own, but 2 five-leaf clovers.  I'm passing around my Irish luck!

And we finally decorated our front yard with fall décor!

So did McCoy's MeeMaw (notice McCoy's Mickey Mouse pumpkin), and my mom!!