Every night when I am lucky enough to put the boys to bed, as I climb up on the top bunk to tuck Gabe in, say our prayers, and then do the "Kiss, hug, squeeze, shake hands, sack of potato routine" I am struck by this thought - I am so very thankful that as I lay my children down for the night, they are clean and happy and dry and their tummies are full and they have warm soft beds to sleep in. This always hits me just as I reach the top rung of the ladder and flop down next to Gabe, and the feeling is so overwhelming I feel like my whole body is just saying "Thank You." During those moments I am never able to think beyond the gratitude, although many other times as I reflect I begin to think of all the other mothers in the world that love their children as much as I love all of mine (is it possible? Yes - it's what makes motherhood so sacred) and why not all of them have warm soft safe places to lay their babies. And the only conclusion I reach is that while life on earth is not perfect, in heaven it will be, but in the mean time I must remember those mothers and babies and do what I can for them, while teaching my children to love others so they might also bring comfort. At which point I feel so proud of Jacob for taking a trip down to Mexico, not just to travel and grow and enjoy, but to hold and love and teach the little ones there. Tonight I am so very thankful that at the end of the day, when the dishes are done (for the moment) and the house is quiet, I can momentarily see past the tiny issues that make up each day in order to see what God is doing and has done for my family.

At times I wonder how we will ever survive Gabe hitting the age of 12, because he is already SO aware of the difference between girls and boys; it's strange because Zach doesn't seem to realize there's any such thing as modesty, embarrassment, et cetera. "Mom, look!" Gabe said as we stretched (or in my case, TRIED to stretch) along with Kathy Smith. "Your boobies are getting bigger! But don't worry, I won't touch them." It's almost too much for me to hear - and it brings along a sense of foreboding about his teenage years.

Gabe and I just did my yoga dvd together; I've been wanting to start doing it in the mornings because it is a nice short 20 minute stretch out, and that would be such a great way to start my day - even before coffee! Gabe kept saying "This is great!" and was really cute doing all the stretches with me. And it was! I was thinking I should do it at night after I get home from work, too.

A couple nights ago, Jake, Katy and I sat down to figure out the "LOST" game that I bought over a year ago; it had yet to make it's debut into our repertoire of family games, mainly because the fifteen pages of directions don't lend themselves to a relaxing evening. After about three minutes we opted to play "Chutes and Ladders" instead. As usual, I was managing to lose every game, and then we realized that our cats really wanted to play. So being the equal opportunity type of family that we are, we allowed Phoebe and Dimitri to join in on game night. Quickly, the cats took the lead, and in no time at all, actually won the game! We have photo documentation to prove it.
As I write this John is in the boys room hanging up some blinds. They have curtains but the other night I was putting them to bed and Zach began the infamous summer diatribe: "It's still daytime" "It's not dark" "I need to get up" blah blah blah. Well, NO MORE! Of course, John + hanging blinds does not a relaxing afternoon make, but in the end I'm sure even he will agree that it was worth it.
Zach just informed me that he is a hot dog, and would like me to eat him. Gotta go!

A little while ago I called into work, and found out that one of the soldiers that died in Iraq on Saturday was Joanna's boyfriend, DJ.
What do you say or think when you find out that one of your friends will be seeing the love of her life for the last time , in a casket? Just last week we were giggling together over Joanna's "webcam date" with DJ - it was the first time she'd seen him since he was deployed, and she said it was great. They were planning to have a date every week, now that DJ had a camera.
Joanna, I am so very sorry. Your heart is broken and the earth keeps spinning, although your world has stopped.

Easter has come and gone - it was really a wonderful celebration this year, although I really missed having John with us. Our family get together was on Saturday, and we got to meet Josh, Jennie's boyfriend! He is so nice, cute, polite, and apparently lots of other wonderful things that we don't know from meeting him, but have heard from Jennie. Katy told me after Jennie and Josh left that while they were all sitting on the couch eating, she was trying to give Josh an open door in order for him to propose to Jennie - right there in the Taylor living room. And she just couldn't figure out why he didn't jump at the chance! Well, Katy, I have a feeling that soon enough, he will!
We did make it to the Sunrise Service - both Jake and Katy really wanted to go, so I figured we may as well. The little boys thought it was very COLD, but also very cool to see the sun come up over the trees, and although they kept stepping on the blankets I insisted on them bundling up in, they really enjoyed the whole experience. (Apparently they don't remember going last year - while I remember it all too well, and almost chose not to attend this year for an encore performance.)
Katy sang a song in Sign Language, and Jacob had a monologue during the regular service, both of which were amazing and I have captured on video. Maybe I can figure out how to download them.
It has actually been a really fun week, socially - I did TWO things! Firstly, Mom and Dad invited me to go see The Celtic Women with them on Friday at the Verizon. I loved it ~ I don't even know what to say except, it was the Celtic Women! It was awesome.
And then last night, John and I saw "Casablanca" on the big screen at the indy theater. Could not have come up with a better date if I tried. Of course, we got home and had to deal with poor Jake and some stuff that is going on with their mom, and then before we made it to bed, Zach was up, so I had to get him back to sleep. Needless to say, the trip to Victoria's Secret earlier yesterday hasn't paid off. YET.

The term "Potty Talk" has taken on a whole new meaning since the boys turned four and five. Suddenly, they became aware that certain words are not polite, and they were so thrilled and fascinated by this that I had to create a new rule to contain their enthusiasm. Potty talk is only allowed in their bedroom. To ban it altogether would take me to new heights of monitoring, and days like today, when I am driving people back and forth to school, hitting three grocery stores, buying Easter outfits, taking Jake to karate, and then working - well, it's just kinda nice to say, "Hey! Take those words into your room, please."
And so, as I put away groceries faster than a speeding bullet, I hear these kind of things being hollered behind closed doors:
"Welcome to my butt!"
"Ahoy, the Underwear!"
"Snug as a bug in a Poop!"