Happy Half(ish) Birthday, Logan!

Ever since Bruce and the boys made my belated birthday cake last week, Logan has been talking about how he is four and a half! And how he wants to have a cake to celebrate.  (Even though his half birthday was February 7th.) We were looking for something to do this afternoon on the snow day instead of watching a movie (aka more screen time!) so we decided to bake a chocolate rocket ship that the boys decorated.  After dinner, we put a candle in it and sang "Happy half birthday" to Logan.  He was thrilled!  A great end to a lazy snow day!

Link to additional photos

Evan and Mom Time

A professional day for the Millbury teachers and school for Logan meant that I got some rare one on one time with Evan today.  After we dropped Logan off at school, we stopped at Dunkin Donuts for a quick treat before heading to the Ecotarium for a few hours.  It was fairly quiet there today and it was especially nice to be able to dedicate all of my time and attention to Evan instead of being pulled in opposite directions.  We checked out the city science exhibit that is on display now and it's really pretty cool.  After heading back to get Logan at school, we stopped at the Millbury Public Library to hang out for a bit and pick up some books.  Love spending time with my boys, especially when I get them all to myself for a bit!  Definitely need to get some more one on one time with my big guy!

Tickled by his bridge design

Having fun seeing how we each respond to different sounds

In the wind tunnel, simulating a category 1 hurricane

Checking to see how cool his city design stays in the sunlight

Experimenting..."What happens if I change this?"

Coloring together at the library

Paw Patrol Live!

For Christmas, Santa brought us tickets to see Paw Patrol Live!  He left a ticket for each of us in our stockings.  The show was tonight and what a fun night!  We started with an early dinner at Logan's favorite restaurant, the 99, before heading to the Hanover Theater in Worcester for the show.  We waited anxiously for the show to start and once it did, we weren't disappointed!  I was worried that Evan might be a little too "old" for Paw Patrol but he enjoyed it almost as much as Logan did.  It was so fun to see the smiles on their faces and their little hips dancing during the show!  Thanks, Santa!  Both boys are already saying that they hope we get more tickets to similar shows for Christmas this year!

Link to more photos from Paw Patrol Live

Gone Too Soon

Last Monday, just past 10 o'clock in the morning, I received a text message from a friend with some terrible news.  Peter Anderson, one of Evan's class of 2028 and baseball teammates, had fallen ill and had tragically passed away in the early hours of the morning.  I was instantly heartbroken and sick upon reading this news.

How could it be that a sweet seven year old boy with such a bright smile and even brighter future was taken from this world so soon?  Much, much too soon!  How could it be that Peter, who had played baseball with Evan for the last two spring seasons, wouldn't step onto the field again this year?  How could it be that this little boy, Emmie's big brother, wouldn't be there to protect her for the years to come as he had done for the last five?  How is this fair?  How?

Well you know what, it isn't fair!  It isn't fair at all!!

The Anderson family came into our lives in the spring of 2015 when Evan started playing t-ball.  We wanted Evan to be able to meet some kids who he would be in school with in the fall so that there would be some familiar faces at school.  Bob Anderson, Peter's dad, was the "head coach" and for the next six weeks, we got to know Bob and Peter as well as Annie and Emmie, Peter's mom and little sister.

By the time the season ended and the end of season BBQ was held, we had made some great friends on the team, including the Anderson's.  I remember commenting how happy I was to have found a family (a few families really) with kids the same ages as Evan and Logan with parents who I liked hanging out with.  It wasn't forced at all.  It was genuine.  We really enjoyed spending time with the Anderson's and a few of the other families we had met.  We were starting to make some local friends!  It only took 9 years!

Summer passed quickly, as it always does, and those of us from JT's Corner Store (the t-ball team sponsor) who had children starting kindergarten got together again at the end of August.  This was again a great night with kids having tons of fun together and lots of laughs shared by the adults.  The school-year was busy but we saw Bobby, Annie, Peter, and Emmie a number of times throughout the year at different school functions.  Peter always had the biggest smile and while I didn't know him really well, I could tell he was such a sweet boy.

Spring came and we were thrilled to find out that Evan was going to be playing ball again with Peter, on Coach Bob's team.  As the spring progressed, the boys got to know each other a bit better, each player on the team improved tremendously, and their personalities began to shine.  Peter was one of the bigger players on the team and he had some great hits!  He was a good little athlete! He always let Evan borrow his helmet, even if that meant he, himself, might not get to use it when his at bat came up.

As the season was coming to a close, we had spent a good amount of time together, hanging out at the field or at someone's house, going for a run, or catching up at a school sponsored event.  We could see the love that the Anderson family had for one another and knew the type of people they are - the type who would do anything they could to help anyone out at anytime.  It was obvious to me why Peter was such a sweet, caring, fun, loving boy.  It was because he had wonderful role models in his mother and father, who loved him tremendously.

For the last week, upon hearing the news about Peter's tragic death, I have done a lot of thinking. Thinking about how life is short and you never know what is going to happen tomorrow so you need to make the most of today.  About how life isn't always fair but how there is something to be learned in every moment.  I have learned from Peter that a smile can be infectious and light up a whole room; that the to-do list can wait and they will only be little for so long; that love runs deep in a family where the parents are caring, kind, and virtuous; that a seven year old, taken from this world much too soon, can have a lasting impact on the world in his short life.

Peter, thank you for sharing your bright smile with all of us during your time on Earth.  Thank you for your kindness and sharing your helmet with Evan and lighting up his world for those moments.  Thank you for touching our lives in ways you probably didn't know you did.  You will be truly missed by all who knew you.  Rest peacefully, young man, rest peacefully.

Additional photos of Peter playing ball can be found in this album.

Strawberry Picking

Another day of summer vacation and another little adventure for us.  Today it was strawberry picking at Nourse Farm.  It's a cute little farm in Westboro, only about 15 minutes from our house.  The strawberry patch isn't huge but it's plenty big to get lots of good berries.  The morning was a mix of sun and clouds so it wasn't too hot while we picked.  Evan picked about two and a half quarts.  Logan picked...I don't know how many because most of them ended up in his belly!  Another fun adventure with my two little pals!

Our picking box is full enough and we are ready to head home

Evan works on filling his container while Logan works on filling his belly!

First Swim Lesson

Evan and Logan started swim lessons at the Whitin Community Center today...well sort of!  Evan rocked it and Logan wouldn't even get in the water.  We did go back later in the morning for a toddlers class where I could sit on the edge of the pool with him and go in with him at the end of class.  Logan didn't want to do anything the instructor asked but did in the end and as we were walking to get our towels at the end of the lesson he said to me, "So, I guess that was really fun!"  He swears that he'll get in the water with Evan next week...we'll see!

Evan in the water while Logan watches from the deck

Sulking on the bench

Kicking across the pool on his back

Kick Off to Summer

We've had an amazing start to summer vacation!  Yesterday was the first full day of vacation and we started the day playing school.  We then took a "field trip" to Purgatory Chasm and West End Creamery.  Today we went to the touch a truck event in Northboro then came home for slip n' slide fun and a visit from the ice cream truck.  What a way to kick off summer!  Not sure we'll keep up this much excitement all summer but if these last two days are any indication, we are going to have an awesome summer!!




Evan climbs the rock face while Logan offers assistance

 They waited and waved for a good 5 minutes. They've had their wallets ready since Sunday!

"Yeah, it stopped here!" Before this Logan was yelling "Hey, ice cream truck, stop here!"

 Evan's first attempt - "It doesn't work"

 Daddy's turn
 

 Logan psyching himself up and then gets a little help from dad. Evan starts to get the hang of it.