My Three Sons

My Three Sons

My older boys are such blessings to me.  I have been fortunate to watch them grow into kind and loving adults and also to watch the joy they give to Michael whenever they are together.  They are the best big  brothers for they take the time to play with him and listen to him and laugh with him.  I am proud of my three boys and so glad God has blessed me with being their mother.

The boys have both been state chess champions and placed in the top three in most of their school years in the Vermont tournament.

So when they are both home at the same time and I see them get out the chess board like they did yesterday, it always makes me smile.  I want them to teach Michael too.

Jimmy and Michael both dressed up as Superman and ran around the house together.  Michael thought it was the best Halloween ever!













Andy always finds time to play with Michael.  He  babysits a lot and the two are often found giggling and racing around the house.

Christmas time has been such a joy these last few years with all my boys together.  Jimmy and Andy really enjoy how excited Michael gets and they share in his happiness.

This past year they bought Michael a bike for Christmas.  And even though it was a bit too big it was so great that they picked it out.  They bought him a super deluxe everything on it, kind of bike.

Look that the smiles here!

Whenever Jimmy is home you will always find Michael close by.  He has always toddled after him and waited for Jimmy to scoop him up.  Jimmy is very patient and always finds time to play with Michael even if he is only stopping by for a minute.

Had to throw this picture in.  Andy took Michael for a walk in the back pack.  Look how cute little Mikey is here!

Brothers are wonderful gifts for each other.  They will always have a special bond that I hope will last for long lifetimes.  I love my boys so much and thank God that they are all a wonderful part of my life.  This last month Jimmy and Andy both had birthdays and I have been thinking so much of their births and the years we have shared.  Even though I have been sick and it has been hard for them, I  have tried to give them all the love and happiness I could.

As I look at them sharing back love to Michael I think that love and joy has been indeed carried on.  Just look at their eyes.

Michael learns about the sense of smell

 Learning about the sense of smell


Michael is learning about his senses.  We are working on the sense of smell and so I put together a game for Michael.  I found these really cool jars for a dollar and filled them with scents for Michael to match.  I used spices of Cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and cloves that were very strong.

 Here are the jars that I placed in a box for him to carry.

 We took them out and placed them on a tray to examine them.  Michael pulled the corks off and peered inside.  He was really interested so we spread them out on the floor and examined each glass jar more closely.









Michael was excited and took them out and lined them on the floor.    He lifted them up to try to see which matched but they were very similar in colors and hard to use his sense of sight.  I told him he had to smell them to try to figure out which two matched.

 Michael lifted them to his nose and smelled deeply.  He picked up each one and tried to match the scents.
It was a new experience for him and was hard for him to pick the ones that were similar with just his sense of smell.  He found it amusing but also difficult to use just his sense of smell.  He kept looking at the jars to see if he could figure out by his sight.  We really do use our eyes for most of our sensorial experiences.

After a while he pointed to the ones he thought went together.  We opened them all up and matched them together with the scents and then also with the added sense of sight.  We looked at the textures of each and
noted which ones looked more similar and then using our sense of smell we matched them up.

Michael spent a lot of time organizing the jars.  He lined them up.  He spent time working on getting the corks off the tops and matching the pairs.  The jars were perfect for his hands and he spent a lot of time shaking them, smelling them, holding them up to look at the contents.

I like to find interesting ways for Michael to explore his world.  He is learning about his senses and how to use each sense to figure out more of the world we live in.

 There are so many things to discover.  I would like to fill a bag up with items for him to identify with just the sense of touch for our next activity.


 The world that Michael lives in really fascinates him and he has a strong curiosity to know the ways of things.  I want to cultivate this sense of wonder and excitement in him for as long as I am able to.  The joy that he give me makes my moments so precious.  I am so thankful to have him in my life.

Aunt Tammy

Aunt Tammy

We are fortunate to live right across from my dear sister Tammy.  Tammy is the sweetest person you will ever meet and has a special bond with Michael that is just beautiful.  Since he was born they have always done things together.  Whether it is a walk around the mall, a holiday, or just sitting on the steps hanging out, they have always liked being together.

Michael loves his Aunt Tammy and has lately taken to call her "Tam."  He tells many people we meet about his "Tam".  "My Tam lives next door."  "Do you know my Tam?"  "Tam is taking me for a sleep over!"  Most of the people are ones behind us in shopping lines and a captive audience.  Or some that walk by our house we will stop to point out his Tam's house.

Tammy has always been there for me and I am so thankful she has always been there for Michael as well.

Here we are on a trip to Florida.


Through all of Michael's life, in all the different seasons, she has always made time to play with him, adore him, hold him, and love him.

Even in stress-filled days she finds laughter and silliness and gives Michael such joy.

Bedtimes she has found time to tuck him in, read him stories, and rub his head.

Birthdays she is right there, giving gifts, and even finding the energy to play with him.

Fairs have come and gone with Tammy and Michael and dear sweet Lyndsie too all enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

Their relationship is based on love and the joy they share in all things.  Walking together hand in hand
you can tell they have such love for one another.

Even on playgrounds Tammy climbs up the slides and goes down them with Michael.  He trusts her completely.

We have spent countless visits at Tammy's work.  Michael loves to visit on Halloween and dress up for her.  They walk about the hospital holding hands, and meeting people.

I am most struck by the way she looks at him, the way she listens to his stories.  Look at her right here,
she is totally captivated by Michael.  They both adore each other.

She has spent countless holidays.  During the fireworks she holds him and shows him the colors and he leans right back into her.

So when I look out the window of my home and I see Michael and his "Tam on the steps just hanging out, I am filled with such warmth and love.  My dear sweet sister is so amazing and I love her so.  And I love how she loves her Michael.  I am so glad they have each other.  I am truly blessed to have them both.

Playing at Parks

Playing at Parks




Michael and I have been enjoying the sunny days at local parks this week.  We have amused ourselves with running through grass, stomping in leftover puddles, and exploring playground equipment.  Always we have found time to breathe in and out and slow our minds and enjoy where we are.

Michael was so excited to find this airplane  to ride on and he climbed right up.  He asked me to join him on the back of it but it was a little too tight.  So he rode solo while I listened to him make airplane noises.

He stood beneath the jungle gym and looked up at all the twists and turns of the ropes.  He wouldn't climb on it but was really amazed at the structure.  Look at his face here:

He was filled with excitement as he climbed through the green tunnels.  He couldn't wait to pop out of the end and roar!  He is getting much stronger.

 Here he is looking at a giant puddle.  He looked at it for a long while.  Then he turned and looked at me.  I nodded and he stomped right through it!  I knew just what he had wanted.  Then we sat down and tossed pebbles into it and counted the rings.

He spotted the small hill and after pointing, rushed up and then...

down with his hands flapping!  He truly knows how to live in the moment.

Every so often he would pick up his helicopter fan and make it blow onto his face.  He would grin and giggle and then run off to find another area to explore.

The next day Michael rode his bike while I walked beside him.  We made it to the park where the really big sandbox is now located.  He loves to bring his pail and shovel and just fill the pail full.

He sat for a long while scooping and pouring into his bucket.  He hummed a bit as he worked.  The sun was warm and beautiful and we both sat in the quiet of the day, just being where we were.

Some kids hopped off the playground and Michael made his way over to where they had been.  He circled about this climbing part and then decided to give it a try.  He is usually very timid but he went right up for a few good steps.  I think his balance is improving as his legs get stronger.  Bike riding and the stairs on the playground structures have really helped him with stamina and strength.

                                   Then he finished his day back in the sandbox filling his bucket again.

 A young boy came and sat down with him.  Michael introduced himself.  They both sat scooping and pouring side by side.  The mother of the boy told me she was thinking of homeschooling her son.  We think about that too.  I want him to experience and enjoy and live the moments that we create.  Every step in our path is a moment to count, to savor, to really find peace in our lives.