TruMama

Splashing, swimming, sliding and smiling!

I love you too much!

Peace out Kindergarten. It’s been real.

First day:

Last day:

You have gone from one extreme to another. It has been pretty drastic. Your brain has grown and grown. And it has been an amazing ride!

You like me being there, but you crave your independence. You have kept me at an arm’s distance away. When I would see you in the hall you would rather just wave, but you tolerated my squeezes. You did not love the idea of me having lunch with you, so I only visited one time. And you did not let me go on your first field trip to sing Christmas songs at the nursing home. But, I am glad you are like that. I totally respect that. You are your own person. Confident in your own skin. Comfortable with your self. Ready to do what you need to do. I would not want it any other way. You rock!

I love you too much!

It’s bright. It’s gorgeous.

It’s Sunday with my son day.

Weeeeeeee.

Off he goes.

But he came back.

Bounce. Bounce.

Toilet paper, Lilu?

“It wasn’t me.” she said. (Someone is jealous.)

They won!

I’t s all good.

It’s bright. It’s gorgeous.

It’s Sunday with my son day.

I love you too much!

You don’t know about Saturday morning cartoons. That era is over. But for me, my childhood revolved around it. I couldn’t wait for Saturday mornings. I’d wake up early and have myself a nice bowl of Cocoa Puffs while I watched Bugs Bunny. And The Jetsons. And The Flintstones. And Scooby Doo. Oh, this time was sacred for me. These characters were my buddies. My pals. These mornings were glorious. Now they are no more. But the beauty of it all…we’ve created our own Saturday morning magnificence. It’s a new era. It’s our own show. We battle. We defend. We conquer.

Oh wait…it’s just Tru.

And snacks are a little different too. Yogurt anyone any dog?

(Notice one dog above, one dog below. Hey Luna!)

Yeah. Saturday mornings are definitely different. But they are every bit magnificent!

I love you too much!

Sometimes things are just a bit freaky. I have to stop, in awe of you, and wonder just what is happening.

I feel like I’m putting the pieces together of an elaborate puzzle that I will never finish, but the thrill of it keeps me going.

Back story:  

When you were 2 years old I bought you Jenga. We played, and still play, all the time. You love it! But you never, ever called it Jenga. You always called it Jenga Boom! That’s just what you said. Every time. “Mama, let’s play Jenga Boom.”

Fast forward:

Imagine my surprise when I was walking the aisles at Target this past December looking for Christmas gifts and saw this. Jenga Boom!

Whoomp! (There it is)

I stopped in my tracks. I literally thought I was seeing things. I read the box at least 3 times. Picked it up and looked even closer. I had the craziest feeling that I still can’t explain, but I knew I had to buy it. I mean, I think you created it. Somehow the universe is eavesdropping on our lives and getting ideas. Somehow your thoughts and creativity are strangely becoming a reality!

You make up lots of stuff. All the time. I’m starting to get a little nervous!!

I love you too much!

Life with you is like lessons of the heart. You’re a wise old soul.

Seeing life.

Understanding life.

Appreciating life.

You’ve a tender heart. Full of compassion.

You’ve much confidence, but oh so humble.

When I asked you if you knew that Christmas wasn’t just about getting gifts, you answered me as if I were crazy.  “I know that mama! It’s about giving to others.”

Your life is your message. Little heartfelt messages.

Signed:

Love,

Tru

Your messages whisper to me every day…

While putting away the wrapping paper, you got an idea. Wrap each other! And bust out within 30 seconds. Game on.

I wrap you.

You wrap me.

We wasted a lot of paper and a lot of tape, but we scored a bunch of laughs!

Embrace moments. Look for fun.

Love,

Tru

We took the bongos to Grammy’s and Poppy’s thinking one of the musicians in the family would know how to play. Instead you played as serious as could be because baby Layla loved the sound and wanted to dance.

You found your rhythm and we had a dance party.

When you bring joy to others, you find joy yourself.

Love,

Tru

Everyone was playing with Layla’s poppity pop. You wanted to join in, but were reluctant. After all, it wasn’t your gift. You waited for an invitation.

You didn’t care what age the toy was for, you just wanted to join in.

Take any opportunity to have a good time and join the fun.

Love,

Tru

Poppy hands out cards each year to everyone with a gift inside. You let Poppy sit in his chair and you had the best fun giving out the cards for him.

You ran around with cards in hand and delivered with a great big smile!

Take pleasure in helping others.

Love,

Tru

You hit the dessert table in the kitchen for a snack.

Yummy!

Take time to stop and eat the brownies!

Love,

Tru

You found a quiet spot to open your envelope from Grammy and Poppy. You studied each bill carefully.

Then you ran and thanked Poppy.

Always be appreciative of what you get from others.

Love,

Tru

Presents all around the tree. You don’t know where to begin.

The only thing you had told me you wanted was a…

basketball!

A game you love to play that you hadn’t thought to ask for…

Cornhole!

You always take time to hug.

Even the boxes! It’s just what you always do.

2011:

2014:

You are just so happy. Pure joy.

It’s not the gift that matters. It’s the thought.

Love,

Tru

You want to play games together. You love togetherness. You want everyone to join in and be included.

Pause: snack

More than all the toys, you love being together.

The best gift of all is time spent together.

Love,

Tru

Later that evening as I wrote in my journal before bed, you took yours that lays on your desk and went into the bathroom. You came out smiling from ear to ear and laid this in front of me:

Mom you are the best mom in the world and I love you.

I love you. You’re welcome.

This made me cry. Really cry. Which made you cry. There we were. Sitting in the bed laughing and crying together.

Two hearts utterly immersed in love.

Tender hearts fully connected.

Experiencing nothing but the love of one another.

You, my Tru, are the best gift of all. Hands Hearts down.

I love you too much!

You just never know what is going to happen when you get 2 dogs and a boy together.

Here’s the girls. Luna and Lilu. They have their own ideas.

Things I could never think of myself. It all starts so simply. I want to throw the ball for Lilu. I want to get a little fresh air and be out in the sun. My boring idea is quickly joined by a 5 year old and morphs into…

Attack of the aliens!

No biggie. I got your back.

Oops! My bad.

Soccer anyone?

It’s two against one. This is soooo not fair.

Lilu grabs the ball and runs for the goal. Score!

You win 9 – 3.

Yes, I lost the game.

But I won!

I love you too much!

The moment.

Driving home from Grammy and Poppy’s house along the boulevard and I spot a rainbow. Daddy goes to turn on our street and I say, “No! Go to the beach access.” He hesitates and I point straight ahead.

We’re like, “Look at the rainbow! Isn’t it gorgeous!”

(It was really glowing. Almost neon. The pic doesn’t do it justice!)

And then you’re like, “Let’s go on the beach!”

We run onto the sand and then we look south and we’re like, “Whoa. Look at the sky!”

And then you’re all like, “I’m getting in the water!”

And so you did.

Clothes and all.

The end.

I love you too much!

Going for a boat ride can be a bit tricky. You love, love, love the island. You love anywhere we stop to explore, but you are not fond of the ride to get there. You are active. Engaged in life. Enveloped in all you do. So, to just ride…hmmm.

Lilu, on the other hand, loves every second of the outing.

You and her sit at the front of the boat and tell Daddy to go fast.

You eat crackers.

You make faces and laugh to pass the time. How silly can you get?

And for just a second, you dangle your feet off the front with Daddy. I think the fact that it scares me to death and it’s against the law, makes you like it all the better.

You check out the shrimp boat with it’s birds in delight.

If we still aren’t there, after all of that…

Finally, the moment has arrived. What you love to do most of all.

Cannonball!

And then, after lots of jumping, the ride back. The process starts all over again.

No matter what, you have a knack for finding fun.

I love you too much!