Megletsmonkeys

It's been a long time since I've done this because thanks to FB I didn't feel the need. But looking at other friends and families blogs I feel the need to start over. Because my monkeys still say and do amazing things and I want this to be a testament to how much I love them. I'm blessed to have this amazing life and I want my kids to know how grateful I am for this life and for them to be as well. That's not to say that things have always been easy, because they haven't. I hope and wish to think that my life in on an even path now and that we are giving the boys the best life experience we can. My number one goal is to let them know how much we love them but first and foremost to let them know how much we love each other. It hasn't always been the case but I hope that within the last year we've made it a point to show them!! Our favorite embarrassment tool is to kiss each other in front of them. Just a kiss on the lips will do and boy their eyes are blinded with laughter and embarrassment. Then add to it Kenley's butt grab. Some might think this is a little much but it's a morning ritual here (as long as I get out of bed) before Kenley goes to work. I love starting our mornings of with laughter and the funny comments from the boys. One of my memories growing up was my dad kissing mom hello from work and maybe patting her butt. Could be worse memories for a child, right? I love forms of affection and will take what I can get from Kenley because as most of you know he's not a big lovie affectionate man!! It makes me smile thinking about how the boys react to this. Case in point--Nate and I were in Walmart to get a card. He was looking at cards on his own and said "mom, this card is you and dad." It was a wedding/anniversary card with the groom and bride on the top tier of a wedding cake and they each had a hand on the others butt. So we had to get this card and I mailed it to Kenley at work. Nate was like ugh...gross!! Like I said, there could be worse things for them to remember about us!

I found pictures the other day cleaning out a closet and it was from Nate's two year old pre-school class. It makes me so sad to see those days gone and I wonder if I enjoyed and soaked it up as much as I could. I'll never get that back. You want life to just stand still....but what would we have to look back on if it didn't? At this moment my life seems so perfect. My husband and I are loving each other and are best friends--and there isn't anything better than that, my kids are loving school and I'm loving their teachers and friends, I have girlfriends that make me smile and laugh and give me friendship like I've never experienced before, my mom is cancer free right now and I'm thankful. I just wish I could make her muscles not give up on her. My dad is still our Mr. Wonderful and he and mom make me feel so loved and special. I hope to give that to my boys--I hope I AM giving that to them. My brother, John, is about to be a dad for the second time but to a little boy this time and I can't wait to see that. His daughter, Hope, is the most amazing little girl. She gets that from her wonderful mommy, Sue Boo. Tony and Tina are loving life with their grand-daughter, Mia, who is about to turn 1. Tony had built a "shop" at his house in NC and has possession of his "Z" now!! Can't wait to see the day that this car is finally restored!! Amy and Steve are still "living life like your vacation!" This should be their motto for life. Kate and Rick are raising 5 year old triplets. Life is always an adventure with them. And Amy and I just turned 40!! I always said I wanted to run a half marathon by the time I was 40 but back pain, laziness, and lack of courage and motivation made that not happen. BUT I did the Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Charlotte for the 2nd year in a row. That was 39.3 miles ( a marathon and a half) in two days!! 26.2 miles the first day, and 13.1 the second day. That was huge for me. I don't care if you walk one or run one--you've still done it and finished!! Plus I raised $2,000.00 for breast cancer research and walked with Kate. Mom, Dad, Amy, Kenley, Jackson, Nate, Rick, and DJZ were there to see us finish. What could be better than that?? A cure for mom but knowing we did it for her and finished is everything!! I look forward to next year too and hope Kate and I make this a yearly cause and an opportunity to raise money and fight for our mom. I feel for women who don't have a loving relationship with their moms. I'm not sure where I'd be, or who I'd be without mine. If I'm thought of as a thoughtful, giving, and sensitive person it's because I grew up seeing it from her. The one thing that sticks out to me that my mom told me a few years ago is that she wished she had a friend like me. My response was she does because I'm who I am because of her. I cherish my parents just as I cherish my girlfriends. I may not see them every week or even talk to them every week but they know who they are and what they mean to me! That's a comfort when you get wrapped up in your day to day life with a husband and two boys. I say "I love you" to a lot of them because as I get older and busier I don't know how long it will be before I see them or talk to them again and I mean it. It's easy for me to say those words because I say them everytime I talk to or see my parents--I grew up with this. May not have always said it growing up during that phase where you don't think you even need parents, but we always said it to our grandparents and great aunts. This I do know and remember as fact!! I know it meant a lot to my mom because she didn't grow up with the "I love you's" and wanted her kids to be comfortable with it. Mission accomplished because all 5 of us have no problem saying or showing their love! I just want everyone that's in my life to know that I love them and treasure them for who they are and what they bring to my life. So I'll end on this.....

I LOVE YOU!!