Rose Colored Glasses

I've tried writing this post four times.  Just know this post was originally the size of a novella. I decided to erase it all and let the pictures do most of the talking. Last weekend we visited friends that we hadn't seen in 5-7 years. Lost time disappeared and our time with them seemed to slow. We ate amazing food, rode waterslides (not pictured), and had wonderful conversations in Spanish and English.  The kids got along all weekend (except when Ray stole Gianna's hat). We left feeling refreshed. We had a blast. I have one story to share with you. Sunday morning after church, Ray and I stood outside looking at the statues embedded in the wall.  He mistook a rough hewn Mary for Jesus (I could understand his confusion), so I brought him back in the church to show him the huge crucifix and tabernacle... to show him Jesus. We walked up the isle. The church was almost empty.  A woman's voice chanting ancient hymns floated above our heads, echoing off the high arche

Greg's brother, Kevin, stayed with us for a few days. Jimmy bonded with his Uncle Kevin. Once when he was crying, Kevin and I were sitting on the couch, I opened my arms to Jimmy but he walked right past me and climbed onto Kevin's lap. If Jimmy fussed Kevin scooped him up and carried him outside, all crying ceased. He took both boys outside every morning so I could shower and get ready. Kevin and I took the boys to the beach.  It was relaxing. Kevin did the usual beach stuff, burying Jimmy in the heavy sand, chasing Ray 1/2 mile down the beach because he never stops running... ever. It was getting close to leaving time. A couple showed up and the woman started burying what I though was a spike for a beach umbrella in the sand. I thought it was strange that she was placing it in out direct path to the water from where we were sitting, and there was literally no one else around, so why there? Turns out it wasn't for an umbrella, it was a spike for not one, but two

Ray likes to talk.  Nonstop. He gets it from Greg. ... just kidding. My ears seem to get worn out after a while, like really fatigued muscles that just stop working on you mid workout (this is actually why I don't work out). I loose the capacity to discern between questions and comments, pointless or otherwise. My responses regress from hums, to grunts, to growls, and then finally snaps... or running away. Recently Greg discovered a hidden gem among our apartment buildings and parking lots, the Tennis Court. It is a fenced in oasis outskirted by shady trees and paths where people walk their dogs. Whenever one goes by, the kids and I run to the fence and drool. Sometimes they even stop to let us pet them through the fence. We visit the Tennis Court somewhere between the hums and growls. Definitely before the snaps. It's my run away spot.  We've been there every day this week. "Ray, smile!"   "Okay, that's good." Last

I hope your Easter Sunday was wonderful.  Of course it was. It's Easter. We attended Easter Vigil Mass, like the optimistic idiots that we are, geared with a backpack full of glow sticks and goldfish snacks and jungle animals (toys, not the kids).  We discussed on the way, "The vigil mass is awesome: no lights, open flames, lots of singing, loads of people... the kids will love it." our first attempts at an Easter family picture Greg even had a gameplan, "I'm going to take the kids to the beach and to the market.  We'll come home and they'll get a bath and eat dinner.  They'll be worn out for mass." He was gone for 5 whole hours with BOTH boys. Sidenote - During that time I cleaned the entire house and cooked dinner.  It's astonishing the amount of work you can do when you're all alone. Jimmy fell asleep on the way in the car. Mass began at 8:30pm. We got our candles lit and marched into the dark church, along with the rest