Brief observations

James is walking around the living room tapping two halves of a plastic stacking toy together in time with the Baroque fanfare coming through the floor. Roy is practicing with a recording. I am glad James is downstairs playing for a chance--he constantly wants me to sit in his room "keeping him company" as he lives life. I'm rarely invited to JOIN. I'm just supposed to sit there.

Owen is sitting in the middle of a pile of toys, gnawing on a rattle, watching James interestedly, and turned on his side hopefully filling his diaper. He just can't be bothered enough to stop the fun to poop. If I had to be subjected to the measures we have to with Owen to aid in the process I think I'd start to make the time...

These little men are growing up so quickly. Their birthdays are in the next two months and soon I will have a 1 year old and a 4 year old. FOUR YEAR OLD! A four year old who can sound out basic words and fold wash clothes in the laundry and run tirelessly like his daddy and is becoming quite a good little singer. Sometimes I feel every one of those four years, but most of the time I'm still the college student who snuggles these velvety little humans and can hardly believe they have been entrusted to my care.

Now that the weather is cooling and the days are a bit more grey it takes me back to this time last year, when we were anxiously awaiting an official closing date on our house. We simultaneously couldn't wait to close, as Owen's due date rapidly approached, and were thankful for each extra day to add to our savings. It was a month absolutely saturated with tension. Should we pack? What CAN you pack? Sitting in the living room now I see how improbably wonderfully it all worked out. This house was for the boys more than us, and they have used it well.

Today's 1%: If you have a husband who insists on the good stuff, like home-roasting coffee, butter over margarine, craft brews, and real maple syrup, do your homework to get the best prices. Found a quart of maple syrup for $10.99 at BJs today. The best price I've seen anywhere else is $4.99 for a CUP at Aldi. Still ridiculously more than Aunt Jemima's, but I gave in once I realized how often I could use it in baking...